Fractions less than 1 Whole,
Equal to 1 Whole, or Greater than
1 Whole.
Many students think that all fractions are less than 1.
Some fractions are less than 1, some are equal to 1, and
others are greater than 1.
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Here’s how you tell how large a fraction is.
Start with the bottom number. The bottom number
tells you how many equal parts are in each whole
group.
How many parts are in each of these whole groups?
4
3
2
8
6
The top number tells how many parts we
use.
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How many parts are shaded in each
of these whole groups?
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3
2
1
5
2
If a fraction equals 1 you use the same number of parts in each
whole group.
If the bottom number is 4, you use 4 parts in each group.
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If you had 1 whole group shaded in, how many parts
would you use?
That’s right, 4 parts.
So the fraction 4 equals 1 whole group.
4
The fraction 4 equals 1.
4
If a fraction equals 1 you use the same number of parts in each
whole group.
If the bottom number is 3, you use 3 parts in each group.
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If you had 1 whole group shaded in how many parts
would you use?
Good job, 3 parts.
So the fraction 3 equals 1 whole group.
3
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3 equals 1.
3
If a fraction equals 1 you use the same number of parts in each
whole group.
If a bottom number is 8, you use 8 parts in each group.
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If you had 1 whole group shaded in
how many parts would you use?
Yes, 8 parts
So the fraction 8 equals 1 whole
group.
8
8 equals 1.
8
Which of the following fractions equal 1?
3
5
7
7
100
1
5
7
9
100
1
6
10
3
4
2
5
11
3
1
You can look at a fraction and tell if the number is
less than 1 whole, equals 1 whole, or less than 1
whole.
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The bottom part tells how many parts are
in each whole group.
This fraction has 6 parts in each whole
group. If the fraction equals 1, how many
parts would we use?
6 equals 1 whole group.
6
If a fraction has 6 parts and we use more than 6 parts, then we
have more than one whole group. This fraction has 8 parts. So
we have more than 1 whole group.
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8 is more than 1 whole group.
6
So the fraction 8
6
is more than one whole group.
If a fraction has 6 parts and the top number in a fraction uses
less than 6 parts, then we have less than one whole group.
This fractions uses 3 parts. So we have less than one whole
group.
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3 is less than one whole group.
6
So the fraction 3 is less than one whole group.
6
Your Turn
Identify the fractions that are less than one whole,
equal to 1 whole, or greater than one whole.
1)
5
2)
1
1
2
Less
3)
4
Greater
6)
4
6
5
Greater
4)
7
Equal
7)
9
10
11
Less
5)
9
Greater
8)
7
Less
9)
100
100
Equal
3
3
Equal
10)
4
1
Greater
Good Job! You have successfully completed part 2.