Identifying Equivalent Fractions
Equivalent fractions are fractions that have the same value. Equivalent fractions
represent the same part of an object. If we cut a pie into two pieces, one of
the pieces is also one half of the pie. If another pie is cut into 4 pieces
then two pieces represent the same amount of pie that 1/2 did. We say that 1/2 is
equivalent to 2/4.
We can determine if fractions are equivalent by multiplying the numerator and
denominator by the same number. The number that we multiply should be such that the
numerators will be equal after the multiplication. For example if we compare 1/2 and
2/4, we would multiply 1/2 by 2/2 which would result in 2/4 so they are equivalent.
To compare 1/2 and 3/7 we would multiply 1/2 by 3/3 to produce 3/6. Since
3/6 is not the same as 3/7, the fractions are not equivalent.
- Fractions equivalent to 1/2 are 2/4, 3/6, 4/8, 5/10, 6/12 ...
- Fractions equivalent to 1/3 are 2/6, 3/9, 4/12, 5/15, ...
- Fractions equivalent to 1/4 are 2/8, 3/12, 4/16, 5/20, ...
- Fractions equivalent to 1/5 are 2/10, 3/15, 4/20, 5/25, ...
- Fractions equivalent to 2/5 are 4/10, 6/15, 8/20, 10/25, ...
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