Week 2: Whole to part relationships: Applying to problem solving.

The student will explore how to get multiple wholes to be broken into equivalent pieces
through the use of Least Common Multiples, and apply fractions to basic problem solving.

Students will connect LCM to being a faster way to cut wholes into equal pieces
If one whole is cut into 3 pieces and another whole is split into 4 equal pieces, we cannot
compare them until all the pieces are the same size. Suggest some ways we can make all
the pieces the same size. Use the illustration to help.

Students will explore how to find Least Common Multiple.

What are multiple?
Multiple are products of one specific number when multiplied with other numbers.

How do you find the multiples of a number?

By multiplying the same constant number by each consecutive number starting with 1.
Example: The multiples of 3 are
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 x6 x7 x8
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 Multiples of 3
(You can also add your constant to each value to get the list of multiples.)

1. In one word least means what? __________

2. In one word common means what? __________
3. In one word multiples do this… ___________
Least Common Multiple tells you what to look for. The _________ (1) number they have
________ (2) when you ___________(3)
 When you have two different whole values you have to make sure the pieces are the same
size, otherwise it is not fair to compare them. You can split them into equal pieces using
LCM.
4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 4 x 3 = 12 Take each fourth and cut it into 3 pieces.
3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 3 x 4 = 12 Take each third and cut it into 4 pieces.

Student will add or subtract fractions.

You cannot compare fractions if they are not the same size (It’s not fair), so now that we know
how to split two different wholes into equal sized pieces we can combine the pieces to add or
subtract.

Remember the LCM of 1/4 and 1/3 is 12, so you can cut them both into 12 equal pieces.

1
/4 (or 3/12) + 1
/3 (or 4/12) = 7
/12
SUBTRACTING

1
/4 (or 3/12) - 1
/3 (or 4/12) = 1
/4

Students will apply fraction operations to problem solving.

Assignment:
In groups of 3, choose one of the following story problems below and complete the following.
1) Draw the fractions in the story problem. Try to illustrate the fraction as it relates to the
problem. (Ex. Draw boxes if the problem is filling up fractions of a box.)
2) Calculate the problem mathematically. (Show how it would be represented with
numbers.)
3) Give a through explanation on how you solved the problem. (Describe the decision
process in deciding how to solve the problem.)
Then post your problem to the Answers page.