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Clusters should not be sorted from Major to Supporting and then taught in that order. To do so would strip the coherence of the mathematical ideas and miss the opportunity to enhance the major work of the grade with the supporting clusters.
- Assessment Limits :
Fractions greater than 1 and mixed numbers may be included. Expressions may have up to three terms. Least common denominator is not necessary to calculate sums or differences of fractions. Items may not use the terms “simplify” or “lowest terms.” For given fractions in items, denominators are limited to 1-20. Items may require the use of equivalent fractions to find a missing term or part of a term.
- Calculator :
No
- Context :
No context
- Test Item #: Sample Item 1
- Question:
What is the value of the expression?
- Difficulty: N/A
- Type: MC: Multiple Choice
- Test Item #: Sample Item 2
- Question:
What is the value of the expression
? - Difficulty: N/A
- Type: EE: Equation Editor
- Test Item #: Sample Item 3
- Question:
What is the missing value in the equation?
- Difficulty: N/A
- Type: EE: Equation Editor
Related Courses
Related Access Points
Related Resources
Educational Game
Formative Assessments
Lesson Plans
Original Student Tutorial
Problem-Solving Tasks
Student Center Activity
Teaching Idea
Tutorials
Virtual Manipulative
STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity
In this MEA, students will apply their knowledge of adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions with like and unlike denominators. Babysitters 'R Us will require students to analyze data in the form of fractional units of time in order to select the best babysitter for the Cryin' Ryan family.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
MFAS Formative Assessments
Students are asked to add two pairs of fractions with unlike denominators.
Students are asked to add pairs of fractions with unlike denominators.
Students are asked to subtract improper fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators.
Original Student Tutorials Mathematics - Grades K-5
Explore how to add fractions less than one with unlike denominators in this magical, interactive tutorial.
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorial
Explore how to add fractions less than one with unlike denominators in this magical, interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Educational Game
Test your fraction skills by answering questions on this site. This quiz asks you to simplify fractions, convert fractions to decimals and percentages, and answer algebra questions involving fractions. You can even choose difficulty level, question types, and time limit.
Type: Educational Game
Problem-Solving Tasks
The purpose of this task is to help develop students' understanding of addition of fractions; it is intended as an instructional task. Notice that students are not asked to find the sum so this may be given to students who are limited to computing sums of fractions with the same denominator. Rather, they need to apply a firm understanding of unit fractions (fractions with one in the numerator) and reason about their relative size.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this task is to help students realize there are different ways to add mixed numbers and is most appropriate for use in an instructional setting. The two primary ways one can expect students to add are converting the mixed numbers to fractions greater than 1 or adding the whole numbers and fractional parts separately. It is good for students to develop a sense of which approach would be better in a particular context.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this instructional task is to motivate a discussion about adding fractions and the meaning of the common denominator. The different parts of the task have students moving back and forth between the abstract representation of the fractions and the meaning of the fractions in the context.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this task is to present students with a situation where it is natural to add fractions with unlike denominators; it can be used for either assessment or instructional purposes. Teachers should anticipate two types of solutions: one where students calculate the distance Alex ran to determine an answer, and one where students compare the two parts of his run to benchmark fractions.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Part (a) of this task asks students to use two different denominators to subtract fractions. The purpose of this is to help students realize that any common denominator will work, not just the least common denominator. Part (b) does not ask students to do it in more than one way; the purpose is to give them an opportunity to choose a denominator and possibly compare with another student who chose a different denominator. The purpose of part (c) is to help students move away from a reliance on drawing pictures. Students can draw a picture if they want, but this subtraction problem is easier to do symbolically, which helps students appreciate the power of symbolic notation.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Part (a) of this task asks students to find and use two different common denominators to add the given fractions. The purpose of this question is to help students realize that they can use any common denominator to find a solution, not just the least common denominator. Part (b) does not ask students to solve the given addition problem in more than one way. Instead, the purpose of this question is to give students an opportunity to choose a denominator and possibly to compare their solution method with another student who chose a different denominator. The purpose of part (c) is to give students who are ready to work symbolically a chance to work more efficiently.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
One goal of this task is to help students develop comfort and ease with adding fractions with unlike denominators. Another goal is to help them develop fraction number sense by having students decompose fractions.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task addresses common errors that students make when interpreting adding fractions word problems. It is very important for students to recognize that they only add fractions when the fractions refer to the same whole, and also when the fractions of the whole being added do not overlap. This set of questions is designed to enhance a student's understanding of when it is and is not appropriate to add fractions.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Tutorials
This tutorial explores the addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators. Using the number line, this mathematical process can be easily visualized and connected to the final strategy of multiplying the denominators (a/b + c/d = ad +bc/bd). The video number line does show negative numbers which goes beyond elementary standards so an elementary teacher would need to reflect on whether this video will enrich student knowledge or cause confusion.
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial, students will be exposed to the strategy of finding the least common denominator for certain cases. Elementary teachers should note this is not a requirement for elementary standards and consider whether this video will further student knowledge or create confusion. This chapter explains how to find the smallest possible common denominator. For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12.
Type: Tutorial
This tutorial for student audiences will assist learners with a further understanding of the rules for adding and subtracting fractions. Students will be able to navigate the teaching portion of the tutorial at their own pace and test their understanding after each step of the lesson with a "Try This" section. The "Try This" section will monitor students answers and self-check by a right answer turning orange and a wrong answer dissolving.
Type: Tutorial
Virtual Manipulative
This virtual manipulative allows individual students to work with fraction relationships. (There is also a link to a two-player version.)
Type: Virtual Manipulative
Parent Resources
Problem-Solving Tasks
The purpose of this task is to help develop students' understanding of addition of fractions; it is intended as an instructional task. Notice that students are not asked to find the sum so this may be given to students who are limited to computing sums of fractions with the same denominator. Rather, they need to apply a firm understanding of unit fractions (fractions with one in the numerator) and reason about their relative size.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this task is to help students realize there are different ways to add mixed numbers and is most appropriate for use in an instructional setting. The two primary ways one can expect students to add are converting the mixed numbers to fractions greater than 1 or adding the whole numbers and fractional parts separately. It is good for students to develop a sense of which approach would be better in a particular context.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this instructional task is to motivate a discussion about adding fractions and the meaning of the common denominator. The different parts of the task have students moving back and forth between the abstract representation of the fractions and the meaning of the fractions in the context.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this task is to present students with a situation where it is natural to add fractions with unlike denominators; it can be used for either assessment or instructional purposes. Teachers should anticipate two types of solutions: one where students calculate the distance Alex ran to determine an answer, and one where students compare the two parts of his run to benchmark fractions.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Part (a) of this task asks students to use two different denominators to subtract fractions. The purpose of this is to help students realize that any common denominator will work, not just the least common denominator. Part (b) does not ask students to do it in more than one way; the purpose is to give them an opportunity to choose a denominator and possibly compare with another student who chose a different denominator. The purpose of part (c) is to help students move away from a reliance on drawing pictures. Students can draw a picture if they want, but this subtraction problem is easier to do symbolically, which helps students appreciate the power of symbolic notation.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Part (a) of this task asks students to find and use two different common denominators to add the given fractions. The purpose of this question is to help students realize that they can use any common denominator to find a solution, not just the least common denominator. Part (b) does not ask students to solve the given addition problem in more than one way. Instead, the purpose of this question is to give students an opportunity to choose a denominator and possibly to compare their solution method with another student who chose a different denominator. The purpose of part (c) is to give students who are ready to work symbolically a chance to work more efficiently.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
One goal of this task is to help students develop comfort and ease with adding fractions with unlike denominators. Another goal is to help them develop fraction number sense by having students decompose fractions.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task addresses common errors that students make when interpreting adding fractions word problems. It is very important for students to recognize that they only add fractions when the fractions refer to the same whole, and also when the fractions of the whole being added do not overlap. This set of questions is designed to enhance a student's understanding of when it is and is not appropriate to add fractions.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Tutorials
This tutorial for student audiences will assist learners with a further understanding of the rules for adding and subtracting fractions. Students will be able to navigate the teaching portion of the tutorial at their own pace and test their understanding after each step of the lesson with a "Try This" section. The "Try This" section will monitor students answers and self-check by a right answer turning orange and a wrong answer dissolving.
Type: Tutorial
In this web-based tutorial, students learn procedures for subtracting fractions. The tutorial includes visual representations of the problems using pizzas, animations of the algorithm, and links to related lessons, worksheets, and practice problems.
Type: Tutorial
