Visual examples of equivalent fractions for kids

🧠 Quick Study Guide: Equivalent Fractions Visually

• 💡 What are Equivalent Fractions? Equivalent fractions are different fractions that represent the exact same amount or value. They might look different, but they cover the same 'space' when you see them.
• 🍕 Thinking About Parts and Wholes: Imagine a whole pizza. If you eat half of it, that's $\frac{1}{2}$. If the pizza was cut into 4 slices and you ate 2, that's $\frac{2}{4}$. Both are the same amount of pizza!
• 🖼️ Visual Models Make it Easy:
  • 🥧 Fraction Circles: Think of circles divided into equal parts. If a circle is cut into 2 halves, and another identical circle is cut into 4 quarters, then one half ($\frac{1}{2}$) will cover the same area as two quarters ($\frac{2}{4}$).
  • 🍫 Fraction Bars: Imagine a chocolate bar. If you break it in half ($\frac{1}{2}$), and then break one of those halves into two smaller pieces, you'll see that $\frac{1}{2}$ is the same as $\frac{2}{4}$, and also $\frac{3}{6}$, $\frac{4}{8}$, and so on.
• ✖️ How to Find Them Numerically (the 'Math Trick'): You can find equivalent fractions by multiplying both the top number (numerator) AND the bottom number (denominator) by the SAME non-zero number. For example, to get $\frac{2}{4}$ from $\frac{1}{2}$, you multiply both the numerator and denominator by 2: $\frac{1 \times 2}{2 \times 2} = \frac{2}{4}$.
• ⚖️ Simplifying Fractions: This is finding an equivalent fraction with the smallest possible numbers. You divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor until they can't be divided evenly anymore. For example, $\frac{4}{8}$ can be simplified to $\frac{1}{2}$ by dividing both by 4.

📝 Practice Quiz

1. Which pair of visual models shows equivalent fractions?

1. A whole circle and a circle divided into 3 equal parts with 1 part shaded.
2. A rectangle divided into 2 equal parts with 1 part shaded, and another identical rectangle divided into 4 equal parts with 3 parts shaded.
3. A square divided into 3 equal parts with 1 part shaded, and another identical square divided into 6 equal parts with 2 parts shaded.
4. A long bar divided into 5 equal parts with 2 parts shaded, and another identical long bar divided into 10 equal parts with 3 parts shaded.

2. Look at the fraction $\frac{1}{2}$. If you cut a pizza into 8 equal slices, how many slices would you need to have an equivalent amount to $\frac{1}{2}$?

1. 2 slices
2. 3 slices
3. 4 slices
4. 8 slices

3. A chocolate bar is broken into 3 equal pieces, and you eat 1 piece. Which of these fractions is equivalent to the amount you ate?

1. $\frac{1}{6}$
2. $\frac{2}{3}$
3. $\frac{2}{6}$
4. $\frac{3}{9}$

4. Which of the following visual representations shows a fraction that is NOT equivalent to $\frac{1}{3}$?

1. A circle divided into 6 parts with 2 parts shaded.
2. A rectangle divided into 9 parts with 3 parts shaded.
3. A bar divided into 12 parts with 4 parts shaded.
4. A square divided into 8 parts with 2 parts shaded.

5. If a measuring cup has 2 parts filled out of 4 total parts, which other fraction shows the same amount?

1. $\frac{1}{4}$
2. $\frac{1}{2}$
3. $\frac{3}{4}$
4. $\frac{2}{8}$

6. You have a ribbon that is $\frac{3}{4}$ of a meter long. Which of these fractions represents the same length of ribbon?

1. $\frac{6}{8}$
2. $\frac{4}{8}$
3. $\frac{3}{8}$
4. $\frac{1}{4}$

7. A cake is cut into 10 equal slices, and 5 slices are eaten. Which visual model of a cake shows an equivalent amount of cake eaten?

1. A cake cut into 4 slices with 1 slice eaten.
2. A cake cut into 2 slices with 1 slice eaten.
3. A cake cut into 8 slices with 6 slices eaten.
4. A cake cut into 3 slices with 2 slices eaten.