standard_description: Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b.
Grade 3 expectations in this domain are limited to fractions with denominators 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8.
problem_activity: Problem 1
a.   Estimate whether the following sums will be more or less than 1.
i.
$${{3\over4}+{2\over4}}$$
ii.
$${{5\over6}+{3\over6}}$$
b.   Solve for the actual sums in Part (a) above.
Problem 2
Cary computes
$$\frac{9}{10} + \frac4{10}$$
using a different strategy. Here is her reasoning:
[IMG]
“First I broke
$$\frac4{10}$$
into
$$\frac1{10}$$
and
$$\frac3{10}$$
. Then I added
$$\frac9{10}$$
and
$$\frac1{10}$$
to get to 1, then added the other
$$\frac3{10}$$
to get
$$1\frac3{10}$$
.
So
$$\frac{9}{10} + \frac4{10} = 1\frac3{10}$$
."
a.   Is Cary’s calculation correct? Explain.
b.   Will Cary’s strategy always work? If not, give an example of a calculation for which Cary can’t use this strategy.
c.   Use Cary’s strategy to find
$$\frac45+\frac35$$
.
Problem 3
a.   Estimate whether the following differences will be more or less than 1.
i.
$${1{1\over3}-{2\over3}}$$
ii.
$${1{3\over8}-{5\over8}}$$
b.   Solve for the actual differences in Part (a) above.
Problem 4
Corrado computes
$$1\frac15 - \frac25$$
using a different strategy. Here is his reasoning:
[IMG]
“First I broke
$$\frac25$$
into
$$\frac15$$
and
$$\frac15$$
. Then I subtracted
$$\frac15$$
from
$$1\frac15$$
to get to 1, then subtracted the other
$$\frac15$$
to get
$$\frac45$$
.
So
$$1\frac15 - \frac25 = \frac45$$
."
a.   Is Corrado’s calculation correct? Explain.
b.   Will Corrado’s strategy always work? If not, give an example of a calculation for which Corrado can’t use this strategy.
c.   Use Corrado’s strategy to find
$$1\frac2{12}-\frac5{12}$$
.


aligns: no