Developing Fraction Concepts

Mylene B. Mandapat Beed 4-2

A. Three Categories of Fraction Models

1. Region or Area Models 2. Length or Measurement Models 3. Set Models

B. Connecting of the Top and Bottom

Numbers
1. Meaning of the Top and Bottom Numbers

2. Numerator and Denominator: A Digression

3. Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

Three Categories of Fraction Models

Models must be used at all grade levels to develop fraction concepts adequately, and children should have experiences with a wide assortment of models. Three categories of models are represented here: region, length and set.

Region or Area Models

In region models, a surface or area is subdivided into smaller parts. Each part can be compared with the whole.

Examples

Length or Measurement Models

With measurement models, lengths are compared instead of areas. Either lines are drawn and subdivided or physical materials are compared on the basis of length.

Examples

Set Models

In set models, the whole is understood to be the set of objects and subsets of the whole make up fractional parts.

Examples

Connecting of the Top and Bottom Numbers

Fractional parts or fair shares of a whole are used as building block of nearly every idea in this topic. This idea can be generalized from the very beginning.

An integration approach, or counting fractional parts, leads to a useful interpretation of numerator and denominator and helps with other ideas as well.

Meaning of the Top and Bottom Numbers

Top number: this is the counting number. It tells how many shares or parts we have.

Bottom number: this tells what is counted. It tells fractional part is counted.

being what being

For example:

Numerator and Denominator: A Digression

of counting. The common name for the top number in a fraction is the numerator.

Enumeration is the process

A denomination is the name of a class or type of thing. The common name for the bottom number in a fraction is the

denominator.

For example:

Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

is combination of whole number and fraction: a figure that consists of a whole number and a fraction.

Mixed

numbers

Improper fractions are fractions that is equally or greater than 1: a fraction that the numerator is equal to or greater than the denominator.

Examples:

Mixed numbers

Improper Fraction

Van de Walle ,John A. Elementary School Mathematics: Teaching developmentally (second edition). Longman Publishing Group. 1990 Musser , Gary L.,et al. Mathematics for Elementary Teachers (fifth edition). John Wiley and Sons, inc. 2000 Gay, David. Solving Problems using Elementary Mathematics. Mac Millan Publishing Company. 1992 www.google.com

References:

Thank you!