User:Linterlo/My sandbox

Are Fractions Commutative?

Creating Fraction Strips

• Use pre-cut pieces of paper
• On the first piece of paper write 1 and one whole.
• The second piece is folded in half, write 1/2 and one half
• Continue for quarters and eighths

Using Fraction Strips for Multiplication

• write the equation in symbols e.g. 1/3 x 3/8
• Then use the language e.g. 1/3 of 3/8
• Using the strip with eighths, cover all but three eighths.
• Visually it is easy to see that one third of three eighths is one eighth
• What other fractional multiplication problems can you solve with your fraction strips?

Commutative Property of Mutiplication

• 3 x 4 = 4 x 3 (even though they don't look the same)
• Does 1/3 x 3/8 yield the same answer as 3/8 x 1/3?
• What is the answer if we swap just the numerators? e.g. 3/3 x 1/8?

Fraction Strips http://www.nzmaths.co.nz/sites/default/files/Numeracy/2007matmas/Bk7/MM%207_7.pdf