Lately in class we have been exploring the concept of fractions. Today, during Calendar Math, I asked the students a question: Is one-half always equal to one-half? As I anticipated, the majority of the students incorrectly answered "yes." Then, I asked them to consider the size of the whole. For example, what if I ordered a Personal Pan Pizza and my friend ordered an X-Large Pizza. Will our "halves" be equal in size? Within seconds of posing this example, there was an uproar in the class. An example as simple as pizza, made all of the students change their mind about the answer to this seemingly simple question. Today's lesson: Consider the size of the whole when comparing fractions AND it is crucial to use the same size "whole" when representing fractions on paper. Besides the pizza example, what example can you come up with to prove that one-half is not always equal to one-half? Post a comment and let the world know!
Fractions are fabulous... (and so are my students)!!
-Miss Russell :)
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7 comments:
Half of $1.00 is less than half of $100.00. Alex
no because it depends on the size of the whole
no because if I split 100 in half I get 50 and if I split 1,000 I will get 500. See it depends on what size whole you are halfing!
Bye love jo18ccekid
half of a small football is less than a big football.JJ
I call FOUL! Trick question! As far as ratios go - a half IS equal to a half! Regardless of size, if one compares the percentage of a whole - one half will always equal one half. :-)
Great question for thought! Dakota's Step-Dad Paul
I say a kitkatbar-1/2+1/2=1 right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!love:dakota:)
1/2+1/2=1 kaelyn
Half of a cup of juice is not the same as half of a small, half, cup of juice. Elias
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