Lesson 6

Relacionemos fracciones con valores de referencia

Warm-up: Observa y pregúntate: Un punto en una recta numérica (10 minutes)

Narrative

The purpose of this warm-up is for students to recognize that two values of reference are needed to determine the number that a point on the number line represents. The numbers 0 and 1 are commonly used when the numbers of interest are small. With only one number shown (for example, only a 0 or a 1), we can’t tell what number a point represents, though we can tell if the number is greater or less than the given number. These understandings will be helpful later in the lesson, as students determine the size of fractions relative to \(\frac{1}{2}\) and 1.

Launch

  • Groups of 2
  • Display the image.
  • “¿Qué observan? ¿Qué se preguntan?” // “What do you notice? What do you wonder?”
  • 1 minute: quiet think time

Activity

  • “Discutan con su pareja lo que pensaron” // “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
  • 1 minute: partner discussion
  • Share and record responses.

Student Facing

¿Qué observas? ¿Qué te preguntas?

Number line. 10 evenly spaced tick marks. First tick mark, 0. Point at seventh tick mark, unlabeled.

Student Response

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Activity Synthesis

  • “¿Cómo podríamos saber qué número representa el punto? ¿Qué nos hace falta poner ahí?” // “How would we know what number the point represents? What’s missing and needs to be there?” (A label for one of the tick marks so that we’d know what each interval represents.)

Activity 1: ¿Mayor que o menor que 1? (20 minutes)

Narrative

The purpose of this activity is for students to identify fractions using known benchmarks on the number line and to compare them to 1. Given a point on a number line, the location of 0, and one other benchmark value, students decide if the point represents a number greater or less than 1. They also quantify the distance of that number from 1. Students do so by relying on what they know about the number of fractional parts in 1 whole, as well as by looking for and making use of structure (MP7).

The work here also develops students’ ability and flexibility in using number lines to reason about fractions. In later lessons, students will work with number lines that are increasingly more abstract to help them reason about fractions in more sophisticated ways.

MLR8 Discussion Supports. Synthesis: For each response that is shared, invite students to turn to a partner and restate what they heard using precise mathematical language. 
Advances: Listening, Speaking

Launch

  • Groups of 2–4
  • “Díganle a su compañero una fracción que sea mayor que 1 y una fracción que sea menor que 1. Explíquenle cómo lo saben” // “Tell your partner a fraction that is greater than 1 and a fraction that is less than 1. Explain how you know.”
  • 1 minute: partner discussion
  • Share responses and ask how they used 1 whole to choose their fractions.
  • Read the task statement as a class. Make sure students understand that they are to do three things for each number line diagram.

Activity

  • “Antes de discutir con su grupo, trabajen unos minutos individualmente en al menos dos diagramas” // “Take a few minutes to work independently on at least two diagrams before discussing with your group.”
  • 5 minutes: independent work time
  • 5–7 minutes: group work time
  • Monitor for students who:
    • label one or more tick marks with unit fractions
    • locate the number 1 on the number line when it is not given

Student Facing

En cada diagrama:

a. Nombra una fracción que represente el punto.

b. ¿Esa fracción es mayor que o menor que 1?

c. ¿A cuánta distancia está de 1?

  1.  
    Number line. 21 evenly spaced tick marks. First tick mark, 0. Point at tenth tick mark, unlabeled. Eleventh tick mark, 1

    ​​​​​​

    1. \(\phantom{00000}\)

    2. \(\phantom{00000}\)

    3. \(\phantom{00000}\)

  2.  
    Number line. 0 to 2, by fifths. Point plotted at sixth tick mark from 0.

    ​​​​​​

    1. \(\phantom{00000}\)

    2. \(\phantom{00000}\)

    3. \(\phantom{00000}\)

  3.  
    Number line. 11 tick marks. 0 on first tick mark. 1 half on fifth tick mark. Point on tenth tick mark. 

    ​​​​​​

    1. \(\phantom{00000}\)

    2. \(\phantom{00000}\)

    3. \(\phantom{00000}\)

  4.  
    Number line. 11 evenly spaced tick marks. First tick mark, 0. Second tick mark, 1 fourth. Point at sixth tick mark, unlabeled.

    ​​​​​​

    1. \(\phantom{00000}\)

    2. \(\phantom{00000}\)

    3. \(\phantom{00000}\)

Student Response

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Activity Synthesis

  • Select students to share their responses. Display their work, or display the number lines from the task for them to annotate as they explain.
  • “¿Cómo supieron qué fracción representa cada punto?” // “How did you know what fraction each point represents?” (Figure out what one interval between tick marks represents, and then count the number of intervals.) 
  • “¿Cómo supieron si es más que 1 o menos que 1?” // “How did you know if it’s more or less than 1?” (It is more than 1 if the point is to the right of 1, or if the numerator is greater than the denominator.)

Activity 2: Clasificación de tarjetas: ¿Dónde deben ir? [OPTIONAL] (20 minutes)

Narrative

In this optional activity, students sort a set of fractions into groups based on whether they are less than, equal to, or greater than \(\frac{1}{2}\). Sorting enables students to estimate or to reason informally about the size of fractions relative to this benchmark before they go on to do so more precisely. In the next activity, students reason about fractions represented by unlabeled points on the number line and their distance from \(\frac{1}{2}\).

As students discuss and justify their decisions, they share a mathematical claim and the thinking behind it (MP3).

This activity is optional because it asks students to reason about fractions without the support of the number line.

Required Materials

Materials to Copy

  • Where Do They Belong

Required Preparation

  • Create a set of fraction cards from the blackline master for each group.

Launch

  • Groups of 2–4
  • Give each group one set of fraction cards

Activity

  • “En grupo, clasifiquen las tarjetas de fracciones en tres categorías: menores que \(\frac{1}{2}\), iguales a \(\frac{1}{2}\) y mayores que \(\frac{1}{2}\). Prepárense para explicar cómo lo saben” // “Work with your group to sort the fraction cards into three groups: less than \(\frac{1}{2}\), equal to \(\frac{1}{2}\), or greater than \(\frac{1}{2}\). Be prepared to explain how you know.”
  • “Cuando terminen, comparen su clasificación con la de otro grupo” // “When you are done, compare your sorting results with another group.”
  • “Si los dos grupos no están de acuerdo sobre dónde va cierta fracción, discutan sus ideas y lleguen a un acuerdo” // “If the two groups disagree about where a fraction belongs, discuss your thinking until you reach an agreement.”
  • 7–8 minutes: group work time
  • 3–4 minutes: Discuss results with another group.
  • “Anoten los resultados de su clasificación después de que los hayan discutido” // “Record your sorting results after you have discussed them.”

Student Facing

Clasifica las tarjetas que te dio tu profesor en tres categorías: menores que \(\frac{1}{2}\), iguales a \(\frac{1}{2}\) y mayores que \(\frac{1}{2}\). Prepárate para explicar cómo lo sabes.

3 stacks of cards.

En esta tabla, anota los resultados de tu clasificación después de discutirlos con otro grupo.

menores que \(\frac{1}{2}\) iguales a \(\frac{1}{2}\) mayores que \(\frac{1}{2}\)

Después de la discusión con toda la clase, completa estas oraciones:

  • Una fracción es menor que \(\frac{1}{2}\) cuando . . .
  • Una fracción es mayor que \(\frac{1}{2}\) cuando . . .
  • Una fracción está entre \(\frac{1}{2}\) y 1 cuando . . .

Student Response

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Activity Synthesis

  • Invite groups to share how they sorted the fractions. 
  • “¿Cómo les ayudó el numerador y el denominador a saber cómo se relacionaba una fracción con \(\frac{1}{2}\)?” // “How did the numerator and denominator of each fraction tell you how a fraction relates to \(\frac{1}{2}\)?” (Sample responses:
    • We already know fractions that are equivalent to \(\frac{1}{2}\), so we could compare any fraction to one of those equivalent fractions that has the same denominator.
    • A fraction that is equal to \(\frac{1}{2}\) has a denominator that is twice the numerator.
    • If a numerator is less than half of the denominator, the fraction is less than \(\frac{1}{2}\). If it is more than half of the denominator, it is more than \(\frac{1}{2}\).
    • If a numerator is 1 or is much less than the denominator, then the fraction is small and less than \(\frac{1}{2}\).
    • If a numerator is really close to the denominator, then the fraction is close to 1, which means it is more than \(\frac{1}{2}\).)
  • Give students 2–3 minutes of quiet time to complete the sentence frames in the activity.

Activity 3: ¿Mayor que o menor que $\frac{1}{2}$? (15 minutes)

Narrative

Previously, students located fractions on number lines and considered their distance and relative position to 1. Here, they think about fractions in relation to \(\frac{1}{2}\). The purpose of this activity is to prompt students to use another benchmark value to determine the size of a fraction.

While students may be able to visually tell if a point on the number line is more or less than \(\frac{1}{2}\), finding its distance to \(\frac{1}{2}\) is less straightforward than finding its distance to 1. The former requires thinking about \(\frac{1}{2}\) in terms of equivalent fractions.

In three cases, the fraction \(\frac{1}{2}\) and the point of interest are each on a tick mark on the number line. This makes it possible for students to quantify the distance without further partitioning the number line. In the last diagram, \(\frac{1}{2}\) is not on a tick mark, prompting students to subdivide the given intervals, relying on their understanding of equivalence and relationships between fractions.

The work here encourages students to look for and make use of structure (MP7) and will be helpful later in the unit when students compare fractions by reasoning about their distance from benchmark values.

Representation: Internalize Comprehension. Synthesis: Invite students to identify which details were necessary to solve the problem. Display the sentence frame, “La próxima vez que compare una fracción con \(\frac{1}{2}\), buscaré . . .” // “The next time I compare a fraction to \(\frac{1}{2}\), I will look for . . . .“
Supports accessibility for: Language, Attention, Conceptual Processing

Launch

  • Groups of 2–4
  • “Identifiquemos más fracciones en rectas numéricas, pero esta vez averigüemos cómo se relacionan con \(\frac{1}{2}\)” // “Let’s identify a few more fractions on number lines, but this time, let’s find out how they relate to \(\frac{1}{2}\).”

Activity

  • “Trabajen unos minutos individualmente en al menos dos diagramas. Después, discutan con su grupo” // “Work independently for a few minutes. Work through at least two diagrams before discussing with your group.”
  • 5 minutes: independent work time
  • 5 minutes: group work time
  • Monitor for students who:
    • locate 1 and \(\frac{1}{2}\) on the number line.
    • label the point for \(\frac{1}{2}\) with an equivalent fraction whose denominator matches the number of intervals between 0 and 1. (for example, labeling the middle tick mark on the first number line with \(\frac{3}{6}\).)
    • on the last number line, subdivide the intervals of fifths into tenths in order to locate \(\frac{1}{2}\).

Student Facing

Para cada diagrama:

a. Nombra una fracción que represente el punto.

b. ¿Esa fracción es mayor que o menor que \(\frac{1}{2}\)?

c. ¿A qué distancia está de \(\frac{1}{2}\)?

  1.  
    Number line. Scale, 0 to 1, by sixths. Point at second tick mark.
    1. \(\phantom{00000}\)
    2. \(\phantom{00000}\)
    3. \(\phantom{00000}\)
  2.  
     Number line. Evenly spaced by fourths. 11 evenly spaced tick marks. Point at fifth tick mark, no label.
    1. \(\phantom{00000}\)
    2. \(\phantom{00000}\)
    3. \(\phantom{00000}\)
  3.  
    Number line. 11 evenly spaced tick marks. First tick mark, 0. Point at fourth tick mark, unlabeled. Eighth tick mark, 7 eighth.
    1. \(\phantom{00000}\)
    2. \(\phantom{00000}\)
    3. \(\phantom{00000}\)
  4.  
    Number line from 0 to 1. 7 evenly spaced tick marks. First tick mark, 0. Point at third tick mark, unlabeled. Last tick mark, 1.
    1. \(\phantom{00000}\)
    2. \(\phantom{00000}\)
    3. \(\phantom{00000}\)

Student Response

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Activity Synthesis

  • “¿Cómo supieron dónde está \(\frac{1}{2}\) en la recta numérica?” // “How did you know where \(\frac{1}{2}\) is on the number line?” (Find out where 1 is, and then locate the halfway point. Use fractions that are equivalent to \(\frac{1}{2}\), such as \(\frac{3}{6}\), \(\frac{4}{8}\), and so on.)
  • “¿En qué era diferente la última recta numérica de las otras?” // “What was different about the last number line compared to the others?” (There was no tick mark to represent \(\frac{1}{2}\) on the number line. The number line had an odd number of intervals.)
  • “¿Qué tuvieron que hacer de otra forma para averiguar a qué distancia de \(\frac{1}{2}\) estaba la fracción?” // “What did you have to do differently to figure out how far away the fraction is from \(\frac{1}{2}\)?” (First split each fifth into tenths and then locate \(\frac{5}{10}\).)

Lesson Synthesis

Lesson Synthesis

“Hoy identificamos fracciones en una recta numérica y las comparamos con \(\frac{1}{2}\) y con 1” // “Today we identified fractions on a number line and compared them to \(\frac{1}{2}\) and 1.”

Display the number line from the warm-up (or ask students to refer to the diagram there).

Number line. 10 tick marks. 0 on first tick mark. Point on sixth tick mark.

Label one of the tick marks (other than the one with the point) with “\(\frac{1}{2}\)”.

“Supongamos que un compañero no vino a clase hoy. Ustedes deben explicarle cómo averiguar qué fracción representa el punto y qué tan lejos está de \(\frac{1}{2}\). ¿Qué le dirían?” // “Suppose a classmate is absent today, and you are asked to explain how to figure out the fraction that the point represents and how far away it is from \(\frac{1}{2}\). What would you say?” (I’d see how far away \(\frac{1}{2}\) is from 0 and then double that distance to know where 1 is, which would tell me the size of each space between tick marks. If \(\frac{1}{2}\) is 4 spaces away from 0, then 1 must be 8 spaces away, and each space must represent \(\frac{1}{8}\). I’d count the spaces from 0 to know the fraction. I’d count the spaces between the point and \(\frac{1}{2}\) to know its distance from \(\frac{1}{2}\).)

Cool-down: ¿Mayor que o menor que . . .? (5 minutes)

Cool-Down

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Student Section Summary

Student Facing

En esta sección, usamos tiras de fracciones para representar fracciones que tenían 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 y 12 en sus denominadores. También usamos las tiras para pensar en las relaciones entre los quintos y los décimos, y entre los sextos y los doceavos.

Fraction strips. 3 rectangles of equal length.  Rectangle 1, labeled 1. Rectangle 2, partitioned into 5 equal parts, each labeled  one fifth. Rectangle 3, partitioned into 10 equal parts, each labeled one tenth. 
Fraction strips. 3 rectangles of equal length.  Rectangle 1, labeled 1. Rectangle 2, partitioned into 6 equal parts, each labeled  one sixth. Rectangle 3, partitioned into 12 equal parts, each labeled one twelfth. 

Aprendimos que 2 décimos son equivalentes a 1 quinto. Es decir, al partir 5 quintos en dos nos quedan 10 partes iguales, que son décimos. Cuando el denominador es más grande, hay más partes en una unidad.

Usamos lo que aprendimos sobre tiras de fracciones para partir rectas numéricas y representar distintas fracciones. 

Number line. Scale, 0 to 1.