Scottish Survey of Literacy &
Numeracy
Support Material
Second Level - Fractions
Classroom version
Produced by Education Scotland
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16
Finding a fraction of an amount
Strategies
Strategy 1
Step 1:
Strategies
Step 2
Split the pizza into 5 equal parts:
Now share 5400 equally between the 5 slices – 1080 on each slice.
Strategies
Strategies
Remove one fifth to leave four fifths:
Add 1080 + 1080 + 1080 + 1080 to find the answer.
• Is one of the two strategies easier?
• Might one strategy be better in one situation and the other for a
different problem?
Finding a fraction of an amount
Strategy
400g
Whole Amount
200g
100g
100g
50g
50g
50g
50g
100g
100g
50g
50g
50g
50g
200g
2 Halves
4 Quarters
8 Eighths
Strategies
Splitting into convenient groups of 4
Counting and shading 1,2,3 and
leaving the 4th un-shaded.
Strategies
Consider though not only shading 3 out of every 4 circles, but also
consider shading 3 out of 4 rows
Simplifying fractions
Suppose we want to simplify the fraction
2
8
Draw two identical rectangles.
Split one into 8 equal parts and the other into 4 equal parts.
Shade the same area in each:
2 1

8 4
What fraction of the first
rectangle is shaded?
What fraction of the second
rectangle is shaded?
Comparing fractions
Comparing fractions
Would laying the two rectangles over one another help?
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