21
Halfway Between
• • • • • • • • • • • Using the activity in the classroom • • • • • • • • • • •
This activity could follow the study of addition of common fractions.
The activity is best introduced orally. Ask the students to give different fractions that lie between 5/
1
2 and 2/3. One possibility is to arrange these on a fraction line. It is important that students are
challenged to justify their answers and, in some cases, it may be appropriate to consider decimal
equivalents. The students should then be asked to identify the common fraction that is halfway
between 5/
1
2 and 8/
1
2, justifying their answer.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Points for students to discuss • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Furthering the activity, students can be asked to give fractions that lie between
1
/2 and
1
/3 and
identify the common fraction that is halfway between them. At this stage it may be necessary to
discuss methods for finding a number that is halfway between two numbers. Students can then use
their calculators to identify fractions that are halfway between other unit fractions. This can be
extended to non-unit fractions. It is important that students are encouraged to understand what is
happening.
Further Ideas
• Find fractions that lie
1
/3 of the way between two fractions, or
1
/4 of the way between two
fractions, etc.
Junior high school/
Elementary school
(upper grades)
Half of this fraction is the number you are looking for,
so divide this fraction by 2.
2
Or after <Display 2>, multiply by .
1
2
Continue the activity using other common fractions.
ANSX1 2=
DEG
ANS
÷
2=
DEG
Summary of Contents for EL-531RH
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