Fractions Worksheets

Fraction circle manipulatives are mainly used for comparing fractions, but they can be used for a variety of other purposes such as representing and identifying fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, and as probability spinners. There are a variety of options depending on your purpose. Fraction circles come in small and large versions, labeled and unlabeled versions and in three different color schemes: black and white, color, and light gray. The color scheme matches the fraction strips and use colors that are meant to show good contrast among themselves. Do note that there is a significant prevalence of color-blindness in the population, so don't rely on all students being able to differentiate the colors.

Suggested activity for comparing fractions: Photocopy the black and white version onto an overhead projection slide and another copy onto a piece of paper. Alternatively, you can use two pieces of paper and hold them up to the light for this activity. Use a pencil to represent the first fraction on the paper copy. Use a non-permanent overhead pen to represent the second fraction. Lay the slide over the paper and compare the two circles. You should easily be able to tell which is greater or lesser or if the two fractions are equal. Re-use both sheets by erasing the pencil and washing off the marker.

Adding fractions with fraction circles will involve two copies on paper. Cut out the fraction circles and segments of one copy and leave the other copy intact. To add 1/3 + 1/2, for example, place a 1/3 segment and a 1/2 segment into a circle and hold it over various fractions on the intact copy to see what 1/2 + 1/3 is equivalent to. 5/6 or 10/12 should work.

Fractions strips are often used for comparing fractions. Students are able to see quite easily the relationships and equivalence between fractions with different denominators. It can be quite useful for students to have two copies: one copy cut into strips and the other copy kept intact. They can then use the cut-out strips on the intact page to individually compare fractions. For example, they can use the halves strip to see what other fractions are equivalent to one-half. This can also be accomplished with a straight edge such as a ruler without cutting out any strips. Pairs or groups of strips can also be compared side-by-side if they are cut out. Addition and subtraction (etc.) are also possibilities; for example, adding a one-quarter and one-third can be accomplished by shifting the thirds strip so that it starts at the end of one-quarter then finding a strip that matches the end of the one-third mark (7/12 should do it).

Teachers might consider copying the fraction strips onto overhead projection acetates for whole class or group activities. Acetate versions are also useful as a hands-on manipulative for students in conjunction with an uncut page.

The "Smart" Fraction Strips include strips in a more useful order, eliminate the 7ths and 11ths strips as they don't have any equivalents and include 15ths and 16ths. The colors are consistent with the classic versions, so the two sets can be combined.

Fractions can represent parts of a group or parts of a whole. In these worksheets, fractions are modeled as parts of a group. Besides using the worksheets in this section, you can also try some more interesting ways of modeling fractions. Healthy snacks can make great models for fractions. Can you cut a cucumber into thirds? A tomato into quarters? Can you make two-thirds of the grapes red and one-third green?

The equivalent fractions models worksheets include only the "baking fractions" in the A versions. To see more difficult and varied fractions, please choose the B to J versions after loading the A version. More picture ratios can be found on holiday and seasonal pages. Try searching for picture ratios to find more.

Comparing fractions involves deciding which of two fractions is greater in value or if the two fractions are equal in value. There are generally four methods that can be used for comparing fractions. First is to use common denominators. If both fractions have the same denominator, comparing the fractions simply involves comparing the numerators. Equivalent fractions can be used to convert one or both fractions, so they have common denominators. A second method is to convert both fractions to a decimal and compare the decimal numbers. Visualization is the third method. Using something like fraction strips, two fractions can be compared with a visual tool. The fourth method is to use a cross-multiplication strategy where the numerator of the first fraction is multiplied by the denominator of the second fraction; then the numerator of the second fraction is multiplied by the denominator of the first fraction. The resulting products can be compared to decide which fraction is greater (or if they are equal).

The worksheets in this section also include improper fractions. This might make the task of comparing even easier for some questions that involve both a proper and an improper fraction. If students recognize one fraction is greater than one and the other fraction is less than one, the greater fraction will be obvious.

This section additionally includes mixed fractions. When comparing mixed and improper fractions, it is useful to convert one of the fractions to the other's form either in writing or mentally. Converting to a mixed fraction is probably the better route since the first step is to compare the whole number portions, and if one is greater than the other, the proper fraction portion can be ignored. If the whole number portions are equal, the proper fractions must be compared to see which number is greater.

Many of the same strategies that work for comparing fractions also work for ordering fractions. Using manipulatives such as fraction strips, using number lines, or finding decimal equivalents will all have your student(s) putting fractions in the correct order in no time. We've probably said this before, but make sure that you emphasize that when comparing or ordering fractions, students understand that the whole needs to be the same. Comparing half the population of Canada with a third of the population of the United States won't cut it. Try using some visuals to reinforce this important concept. Even though we've included number lines below, feel free to use your own strategies.

The ordering fractions worksheets in this section do not include a number line, to allow for students to use various sorting strategies.

Rounding fractions helps students to understand fractions a little better and can be applied to estimating answers to fractions questions. For example, if one had to estimate 1 4/7 × 6, they could probably say the answer was about 9 since 1 4/7 is about 1 1/2 and 1 1/2 × 6 is 9.

Learning how to simplify fractions makes a student's life much easier later on when learning operations with fractions. It also helps them to learn that different-looking fractions can be equivalent. One way of demonstrating this is to divide out two equivalent fractions. For example 3/2 and 6/4 both result in a quotient of 1.5 when divided. By practicing simplifying fractions, students will hopefully recognize unsimplified fractions when they start adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with fractions.

Multiplying fractions is usually less confusing operationally than any other operation and can be less confusing conceptually if approached in the right way. The algorithm for multiplying is simply multiply the numerators then multiply the denominators. The magic word in understanding the multiplication of fractions is, "of." For example what is two-thirds OF six? What is a third OF a half? When you use the word, "of," it gets much easier to visualize fractions multiplication. Example: cut a loaf of bread in half, then cut the half into thirds. One third OF a half loaf of bread is the same as 1/3 x 1/2 and tastes delicious with butter.

Conceptually, dividing fractions is probably the most difficult of all the operations, but we're going to help you out. The algorithm for dividing fractions is just like multiplying fractions, but you find the inverse of the second fraction or you cross-multiply. This gets you the right answer which is extremely important especially if you're building a bridge. We told you how to conceptualize fraction multiplication, but how does it work with division? Easy! You just need to learn the magic phrase: "How many ____'s are there in ______? For example, in the question 6 ÷ 1/2, you would ask, "How many halves are there in 6?" It becomes a little more difficult when both numbers are fractions, but it isn't a giant leap to figure it out. 1/2 ÷ 1/4 is a fairly easy example, especially if you think in terms of U.S. or Canadian coins. How many quarters are there in a half dollar?

This section includes worksheets with both multiplication and division mixed on each worksheet. Students will have to pay attention to the signs.

Adding fractions requires the annoying common denominator. Make it easy on your students by first teaching the concepts of equivalent fractions and least common multiples. Once students are familiar with those two concepts, the idea of finding fractions with common denominators for adding becomes that much easier. Spending time on modeling fractions will also help students to understand fractions addition. Relating fractions to familiar examples will certainly help. For example, if you add a 1/2 banana and a 1/2 banana, you get a whole banana. What happens if you add a 1/2 banana and 3/4 of another banana?

A common strategy to use when adding mixed fractions is to convert the mixed fractions to improper fractions, complete the addition, then switch back. Another strategy which requires a little less brainpower is to look at the whole numbers and fractions separately. Add the whole numbers first. Add the fractions second. If the resulting fraction is improper, then it needs to be converted to a mixed number. The whole number portion can be added to the original whole number portion.

There isn't a lot of difference between adding and subtracting fractions. Both require a common denominator which requires some prerequisite knowledge. The only difference is the second and subsequent numerators are subtracted from the first one. There is a danger that you might end up with a negative number when subtracting fractions, so students might need to learn what it means in that case. When it comes to any concept in fractions, it is always a good idea to relate it to a familiar or easy-to-understand situation. For example, 7/8 - 3/4 = 1/8 could be given meaning in the context of a race. The first runner was 7/8 around the track when the second runner was 3/4 around the track. How far ahead was the first runner? (1/8 of the track).

Mixing up the signs on operations with fractions worksheets makes students pay more attention to what they are doing and allows for a good test of their skills in more than one operation.

Although some of these worksheets are single operations, it should be helpful to have all of these in the same location. There are some special considerations when completing operations with negative fractions. It is usually very helpful to change any mixed numbers to an improper fraction before proceeding. It is important to pay attention to the signs and know the rules for multiplying positives and negatives (++ = +, +- = -, -+ = - and -- = +).

The order of operations worksheets in this section actually reside on the Order of Operations page, but they are included here for your convenience.