Equivalent Fractions
In this example, there is a missing numerator. Determine what number was used to
multiply 4 by to get 16.
3
4
=
?
3
4 times what is 16? 4 × 4 = 16 , so
16
4
×
4
?
=
16
Create a fraction that equals 1 using 4 as the denominator. There is no big secret here. Any
number over itself equals 1.
4
= 1 and
3×4 = 12
4
3
4
×
4
4
Example 1:
=
2
7
12
16
=
2
7
Example 2:
5
8
5
8
Example 3:
42
×
=
×
=
6
2
42
7
×
6
6
=
2
42
7
×
6
6
=
12
42
24
=
3
5
24
8
×
3
3
=
5
24
8
×
3
3
=
15
24
It works the same if you have a missing denominator.
3
11
3
11
=
×
15
5
=
15
3
11
×
5
5
=
15
3
11
If you reverse the process, each answer reduces to the original fraction.
×
5
5
=
15
55