Operations with fractions

What they’re learning

Your child is extending fraction operations and using models or equivalent fractions to reason about answers. The key is keeping track of the size of the pieces.

Explain it to my child

You can only add pieces directly when they are the same kind. To add 1/2 and 1/4, rename 1/2 as 2/4, then 2/4 + 1/4 = 3/4.

Try it together

Use measuring cups or paper fraction strips. Combine quantities such as 1/2 cup + 1/4 cup and physically verify the result before writing the equation.

Practice

1. 1/2 + 1/4 = ?
2. 5/6 - 1/3 = ?
3. 2/5 + 1/5 = ?
4. 3/4 - 1/8 = ?
5. A recipe uses 1/3 cup twice. How much total?

Check understanding

• Can your child create equivalent fractions when needed?
• Can they estimate whether a fraction answer should be less than or greater than 1?