options: Number Systems and Quantity: students learn to understand the complex number system and reason quantitatively.

Counting & Cardinality: students learn to know number names and the count sequence, count to tell the number of objects, and compare numbers.

Geometry: students learn to classify geometric figures by their properties, and understand and compare the relationships between them. Students develop and use formulas to compute lengths, areas, and volumes, and they use transformations to generate new shapes and compare existing ones. Geometry can be studied with and without coordinates.

Operations & Algebra: students learn to solve problems using algebraic thinking and operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They may learn to identify and explain arithmetic patterns, evaluate or manipulate numerical expressions, and reason with equations and inequalities.

Number & Operations in Base Ten: students learn to work with the base-ten system and build place value understanding.

Statistics & Probability: students learn to analyze and produce data distributions, and build understanding of univariate and bivariate data. They learn to interpret data, make statistical inferences, justify conclusions, understand rules of probability, and use probability to make decisions.

Ratios & Proportional Relationships: students learn to recognize, describe, represent, and reason with ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and percent.

Modeling: students learn to choose and use appropriate mathematics and statistics to analyze real-world empirical situations, improve decisions, and report on their conclusions and the reasoning behind them.

Number & Operations - Fractions: students learn to understand fractions as numbers and may work with them using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Functions: students learn to define, use, and evaluate functions to model relationships between quantities.

Measurement & Data: students learn to work with data and measure attributes such as time, money, length, area, and volume. They may learn to compare measurements to operations and convert between different units of measure.
problem_activity: Narrative
The purpose of this activity is for students to analyze pairs of fractions to determine if they are equivalent. Students may use any representation that makes sense to them. Students will create a visual display and have a gallery walk to consider the different ways of looking for equivalence. Highlight representations such as diagrams and number lines, which will support students as they learn to compare fractions with the same numerator or denominator in this section.
This activity uses
MLR7 Compare and Connect. Advances: representing, conversing
Engagement: Develop Effort and Persistence.
Invite students to generate a list of shared expectations for group work. Record responses on a display and keep visible during the activity.
Supports accessibility for: Social-Emotional Functioning
Required Materials
Materials to Gather
Materials for creating a visual display
Launch
Groups of 2
“Decide if these pairs of fractions are equivalent and show your thinking for each one. You can use any representation that makes sense to you.”
Activity
3–5 minutes: independent work time
“Share your ideas with your partner.”
2–3 minutes: partner discussion
MLR7 Compare and Connect
“Work with your partner to create a visual display that shows your thinking about
\(\frac{4}{6}\)
and
\(\frac{5}{6}\)
. You may want to include details such as notes, diagrams, drawings, and so on, to help others understand your thinking.”
Give students materials for creating a visual display.
2–5 minutes: partner work time
5–7 minutes: gallery walk
Student Facing
Are these fractions equivalent? Show your thinking using diagrams, symbols, or other representations.
\(\frac{1}{2}\)
and
\(\frac{1}{3}\)
\(\frac{4}{6}\)
and
\(\frac{5}{6}\)
\(\frac{3}{4}\)
and
\(\frac{6}{8}\)
Student Response
Teachers with a valid work email address can
click here to register or sign in
for free access to Student Response.
Advancing Student Thinking
If students don’t determine whether or not fractions are equivalent, consider asking:
“What do you know about these fractions?”
“How could you use your fraction strips or diagrams to decide if they are equivalent?”
Activity Synthesis
“What are the different representations we can use to decide if
\(\frac{4}{6}\)
and
\(\frac{5}{6}\)
are equivalent?” (diagrams, number lines)
“How did each representation show that
\(\frac{4}{6}\)
and
\(\frac{5}{6}\)
are not equivalent?” (In the diagram, you can see that
\(\frac{5}{6}\)
has more space shaded. On the number line, they are not at the same location.)


correct_option_index: 8