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Fractions and the benchmarks 0, 1/2 and 1

Lesson

The size of fractions

You may have already learned about plotting fractions on a number line. We can use number lines to compare our fractions to some benchmark fractions, including $0$0, $\frac{1}{2}$12 and $1$1 .

Remember!

When plotting fractions on a number line we use:

  • the denominator to divide the whole numbers into equal parts
  • the numerator to select the number of parts.

Worked Examples

QUESTION 1

Is the fraction $\frac{1}{4}$14 closer to $0$0 or $1$1?

  1. $0$0

    A

    $1$1

    B

QUESTION 2

Is the fraction $\frac{2}{3}$23 closer to $0$0 or $1$1?

  1. $1$1

    A

    $0$0

    B

Harder fractions

When we have fractions that might have larger denominators, or if we can't easily see where a fraction sits on a number line, there are things we can do still. Watch this video to look at how we can estimate using benchmarks with harder fractions.

Worked Examples

Question 3

Is the fraction $\frac{8}{20}$820 closer to $0$0 or $\frac{1}{2}$12?

  1. $\frac{1}{2}$12

    A

    $0$0

    B

 

 

Outcomes

NA3-1

Use a range of additive and simple multiplicative strategies with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages.

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