EQUIVALENT

FRACTIONS
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Definition
• Examples
• Finding Equivalent Fractions
• Equivalent Fractions Chart
• How to Determine Fractions are Equivalent?
1. Equivalent fractions are the fractions that
have different numerators and denominators
but are equal to the same value. For example,
2/4 and 3/6 are equivalent fractions, because
they both are equal to the ½. A fraction is a
part of a whole. Equivalent fractions represent
the same portion of the whole.
The biggest question here can be, why do they
have equal values in spite of having different
numbers?

The answer to this question is that, as the numerator

and denominator are not co-prime numbers,
therefore they have a common multiple, which on
division gives exactly the same value.
EXAMPLE OF EQUIVALENT FRACTION

Example of Equivalent Fraction:

1/2 = 2/4 = 4/8
But, it is clearly seen that the above
fractions have different numerators
and denominators.
 2. DIVIDING BOTH NUMERATOR AND
DENOMINATOR BY THEIR COMMON
FACTOR, WE HAVE:

÷
In the same way, if we simplify 2/4,
again get 1/2.
÷ =
 3. EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS
OF A MIXED FRACTION:
Let us consider a mixed fraction to find its equivalent fraction.
Mixed fraction = 1 ½
Now, convert this fraction into an improper fraction.
1 ½ = (1 × 2 + 1)/2 = (2 + 1)/2 = 3/2
The equivalent fractions for the above fraction are:
3/2 = (3 × 2)/(2 × 2) = 6/4
3/2 = (3 × 3)/(2 × 3) = 9/6
3/2 = (3 × 4)/(2 × 4) = 12/8 and so on.
 HOW TO FIND EQUIVALENT
FRACTIONS?
Equivalent fractions are evaluated by
multiplying or dividing both the
numerator and the denominator by the
same number. Therefore, equivalent
fractions, when reduced to their
simplified value, will all be the same.
 4. MULTIPLYING NUMERATOR AND
DENOMINATOR BY THE SAME NUMBER
For example, consider the fraction 1/5
• Multiplying numerator and denominator with 2, we get
1/5 × 2/2 = 2/10
• Multiplying numerator and denominator with 3, we get
1/5 × 3/3 = 3/15
• Multiplying numerator and denominator with 4, we get
1/5 × 4/4 = 4/20
Therefore, we can conclude that,
• 1/5 = 2/10 = 3/15 = 4/20
 5. DIVIDING NUMERATOR AND
DENOMINATOR BY THE SAME NUMBER
For example, we need to find the equivalent fraction of 18/32.
Find the Highest common factor of 18 and 32.
HCF (18, 32) = 2
Now divide the numerator and denominator by 2, to get the
equivalent fraction of 18/32.
(18÷2)/(32÷2) = 9/16
Hence, 9/16 is equivalent to 18/32.
Note: We can only multiply or divide by the same numbers to get an
equivalent fraction and not addition or subtraction. Simplification
to get equivalent numbers can be done to a point where both the
numerator and denominator should still be whole numbers.
 EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS
CHART
Let us see the equivalent fractions for unit fractions.
UNIT FRACTION EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS
1/2 2/4, 3/6, 4/8..

1/3 2/6, 3/9, 4/12..

1/4 2/8, 3/12, 4/16..

1/5 2/10, 3/15, 4/20,..

1/6 2/12, 3/18, 4/24,..

1/7 2/14, 3/21, 4/28,..

1/8 2/16, 3/24, 4/32,..

1/9 2/18, 3/27, 4/36,..

METHODS TO DETERMINE
EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS
How can we determine if two fractions are
equivalent or not? It is possible by these
methods:
• Method 1: Make the Denominators the
same
• Method 2: Cross Multiply
• Method 3: Convert to decimals
 METHOD 1:
By making the denominators the same, we can evaluate if
two fractions are equivalent.
For example, find if 2/3 and 6/9 are equivalent.
• LCM of 3 and 9 = 9
• Multiply 2/3 by 3/3 to make the denominator equal to 9.
• 2/3 × 3/3 = 6/9
Hence, by making the denominators the same, we can see, 2/3 and
6/9 are equivalent fractions.
 METHOD 2:
Given, two fractions 1/2 and 3/6
Cross multiply both the fractions to get:
1x6=6
2x3=6
Since, both the values are equal,
therefore, 1/2 and 3/6 are
equivalent fractions.
 METHOD 3:
If two fractions are given, we can simply find their decimals
to check if they are equivalent fractions.
Let us check if 1/4 and 3/12 are equivalent fractions by
converting them in decimal form.
1/4 = 0.25
3/12 = 0.25
Since, both the fractions result in the same decimal, thus
they are equivalent.
 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Find the equivalent fraction of 8/10
2. What is the simplest form of 9/81?
3. Write the fraction three-sevenths as an equivalent
fraction with a denominator of 21.
4. Write the fraction five-eighth as an equivalent
fraction with a denominator of 24.
 REFERENCE
https://byjus.com/
maths/equivalent-
fractions/