Fractions Concept

Fractions – Parts of a Set Dr. Beth McCulloch Vinson Athens State University PT3 Grant Funding, Summer 2000

Fractions 

A fraction can show us a part of a set.



In this example, we have 1 red jewel and 2 blue jewels.

1 red jewel

2 blue jewels

Fractions 

Our total number in the set is 1, 2, 3 jewels in all. Count them with me. We’ll put our total number on the bottom of our fraction because the big, heavy number sinks to the bottom. ___ 3 total # of jewels

1

2

3

Fractions 

The total number of red jewels is 1. We’ll put that number on top of the 3. 1 3

# of red jewels total # of jewels

1 red jewel

Fractions 

We read it like this: “I have 3 jewels in all. One-third of my jewels are red.” 1 3

# of red jewels total # of jewels

Fractions We can also say: “I have 3 jewels in all. One-third of my jewels are red.” 1 3 “Two-thirds of my jewels are blue.” 2 3



1 red jewel 2 blue jewels

Now you do one by yourself. How many jewels are there in this set?

You’re right! There are 4 jewels in all.

Now you do one by yourself. What part of this set has blue jewels?

You’re right! There are 3 blue jewels.

Now you do one by yourself. How do we write that as a fraction?

You’re right! “Three-fourths of our jewels are blue.”

3 4

THE END A Project Developed for Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) By Dr. Beth McCulloch Vinson Athens State University, College of Education http://www.athens.edu/vinsobm