A CONCEPTUAL APPROACH
A Singapore Math Topical Presentation
Grades 3-6
7 or 1 + 3
4
4
or 1 3
4
Number of pieces in one unit (pie cuts into 4 slices, 1 pie=1 unit)
4/4 (1 unit or pie)
3/4
Unlike Fraction
As denominator grew larger what happened to the
shaded area of rectangle?
1/2
1/4
1/6
Like Fractions
1/6
3/6
5/6
1
7
1
7
1
7
4 = 4x 1
7
7
1
7
or
1 + 1+ 1 + 1
7 7 7 7
4
7
? 1 1
= 4 4
1
+ 4
1/4
1/4
2/8 = 1/4
Equivalent Fractions
Fractions that have the same value.
Their numerators and denominators are in the same ratio.
1
2
2
4
4
8
Want to
add 1/4 + 1/4:
1
4
1+2 1 + 2
4 4= 4
1 + 2 = 1+2
4 4
4
1x3
4 3
=1
1 + 1
4 3
3 +4
12 12
7
12
7
12
Notice: to add these, they had to be written with the same whole!
1 + 1
3 4
1
3
1
1/4
1 + 1
3 4
Note:
+
12
) = (4 + 3) = 7
12
12
1/4
1
Another Example
Mike likes to make healthy snack. His recipe
mixes 1/3 cups of mini-pretzels with 2/5 cups of
yogurt-covered cranberries. How much snack
does this recipe make?
1/3
Mini-pretzels
+
Yogurt
2/5
= ?
1 + 2
3 5
1
3
1
2
5
2
5
Whole (unit grid) = 3 x 5
1 + 2
3 5
+
15
1
3
) = (5 + 6 = 11
15 15
1 = Cindy
2
1
5
+
10
2+5
10
7
=
10
2
5
7
1
1
+
=
=
+
10
10
10
5
2
Cindy
1
5
1
2
7
10
2
10
5
10
7
10
Cindy
1
5
1
5
1
+
2
1
2
5
2
+
=
10
10
7
10
ad + bc
bd
1 + 1
5 2
1 + 1
5 2
1 2 + 5 1
52
7
10
2 + 5 = 7
2
5
10
2+5
10
a+ c
b d
1 + 2
3 5
1 + 2
3 5
ad + bc
bd
15 + 32
35
11
=
15
5 +
15
5+6
15
6 = 11
Stand for o
1 + 3
13 10
0
1
10
49
130
39 = 49
30
100
30
Introduce Subtraction
Fraction
1
12
2
3
3 2
4- 3
1
3/4
3 - 2
4 3
9
8
= 12 12 =(
12
1
) = (9 - 8) = 1
12
12
Summary
We need to make sure that were
teaching fractions conceptually,
not just algorithmically.
We need to make sure that we are
clearly defining the whole.
We can use grid, circle, bar diagrams
or line to model addition and
subtraction of fractions.
+ = ?
Slow laps
1
2
5
20 + 6
15 15
1 1+ 2
3 5
) / 15
1
3
+ = ?
Back Street
1/3
2/5
Mixed Fraction
1 +12
5
3
1 + 7
5
3
5 + 21
15 15
=(
) / 15
= {(5) + (15 +6 )} / 15
= (5 + 21) / 15
= 26/15
1
2
5
12
5
1
1
3
1/3
Saturday
+ = ?
Sunday
1
2/5
Mixed Fraction
1 1+12
5
3
4 + 7
3
5
20 21
15 + 15
=(
) / 15
= {(15+5) + (15+6)}/15
= (20 + 21)/15
= 41/15
1
2
5
1
1
3