Fractions. Equivalent Fractions
Two players in a video game move through games with different total numbers of levels. One has beaten $42$ of $60$ levels; the other has the same proportion, but in a game with $90$ levels. How many levels has the second one beaten? To solve it, you need to master equivalent fractions.
What a fraction represents
A fraction $\frac{a}{b}$ says that a whole is divided into $b$ equal parts and $a$ of them are taken. The denominator $b$ names the parts and the numerator $a$ counts them.
If you eat $8$ slices of a cake that has $20$ slices, you ate $\frac{8}{20}$ of the cake. Notice: you always compare with the total, not with the slices that are left.
A fraction on the number line
A fraction is also a point on the line. To place it: mark $0$ and $1$, divide the segment between them into as many equal parts as the denominator says, and count from $0$ as many parts as the numerator says.
With the segment divided into $8$ parts, $\frac{4}{8}$ is at the fourth mark. With $4$ parts, $\frac{2}{4}$ is at the second mark, and with $2$ parts, $\frac{1}{2}$ is at the first. All three land on the same point: they are equivalent fractions.
In a chocolate bar like the one in the picture, we have eaten the pieces shaded in orange. a) Write down the fraction representing the pieces eaten relative to the whole…
In a chocolate bar like the one in the picture, we have eaten the pieces shaded in orange.
- a) Write down the fraction representing the pieces eaten relative to the whole bar.
- b) Simplify the fraction above to its simplest form.
Look at the following rectangles of equal size. The first is divided into $4$ equal parts and the second into $8$ equal parts. a) Write down the shaded fraction of…
Look at the following rectangles of equal size. The first is divided into $4$ equal parts and the second into $8$ equal parts.
- a) Write down the shaded fraction of Figure A.
- b) Write down the shaded fraction of Figure B.
- c) Are they equivalent? Justify your answer by looking at the diagram and carrying out the calculation.
Equivalent fractions and cross products
Different fractions can represent the same quantity. For example, $\frac{1}{2}$, $\frac{2}{4}$, and $\frac{4}{8}$ mark the same point on the number line.
In a video game, you collected $45$ coins out of a total of $60$ available in the level. On the other hand, your brother collected $15$ out of a total of $20$ in his…
In a video game, you collected $45$ coins out of a total of $60$ available in the level. On the other hand, your brother collected $15$ out of a total of $20$ in his game.
Use the cross-products rule to check whether the two fractions of coins collected are equivalent.
Two graphic designers are working with grids to create a logo. The first designer has shaded $\frac{12}{20}$ of their grid, while the second has shaded $\frac{18}{30}$…
Two graphic designers are working with grids to create a logo. The first designer has shaded $\frac{12}{20}$ of their grid, while the second has shaded $\frac{18}{30}$ of theirs. Look at the following graphic representations and explain whether both have shaded the same proportion of area, by checking whether the fractions are equivalent.
An influencer analyses the impact of their videos. In the first one, they got $36$ "likes" for every $80$ views. In the second one, they got $45$ "likes" for every $100$…
An influencer analyses the impact of their videos. In the first one, they got $36$ "likes" for every $80$ views. In the second one, they got $45$ "likes" for every $100$ views. Use the cross-multiplication rule to determine if the success rate is equivalent in both videos.
Amplifying and simplifying
A group of friends is comparing the success of their social media posts. Lucía says that $2$ out of every $5$ followers liked her latest photo. a) Write down the…
A group of friends is comparing the success of their social media posts. Lucía says that $2$ out of every $5$ followers liked her latest photo.
- a) Write down the fraction of "likes" for Lucía.
- b) Find an equivalent fraction by multiplying both terms by $3$.
- c) Find another equivalent fraction if Lucía had a total of $50$ followers.
In the school library, the librarian tells us that $\frac{12}{30}$ of the books are adventure books. Help him simplify this fraction to put on a poster: a) Divide the…
In the school library, the librarian tells us that $\frac{12}{30}$ of the books are adventure books. Help him simplify this fraction to put on a poster:
- a) Divide the numerator and the denominator by $2$.
- b) Divide the previous result by $3$.
- c) Is the fraction obtained in part b in its simplest form? Why?
Simplify the following fractions to their simplest form. To do this, use the method of dividing the numerator and denominator by their highest common factor (HCF): a)…
Simplify the following fractions to their simplest form. To do this, use the method of dividing the numerator and denominator by their highest common factor (HCF):
- a) $\dfrac{126}{180}$
- b) $\dfrac{210}{315}$
- c) $\dfrac{154}{198}$
Three siblings share the cash prize of a mathematics competition as follows: the oldest receives $\frac{24}{60}$ of the total, the middle one receives a fraction…
Three siblings share the cash prize of a mathematics competition as follows: the oldest receives $\frac{24}{60}$ of the total, the middle one receives a fraction equivalent to $\frac{18}{45}$, and the youngest gets the remainder.
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Calculate the simplest form fraction of what each of the two older siblings receives.
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Who receives more money, the oldest or the middle sibling?
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What fraction of the total does the youngest sibling receive? Is it greater or less than their siblings' shares?
Finding the unknown term
To make a fruit smoothie, the recipe states that we should use $\frac{3}{4}$ of a liter of milk. If we want to make a larger quantity while maintaining the ratio, and…
To make a fruit smoothie, the recipe states that we should use $\frac{3}{4}$ of a liter of milk. If we want to make a larger quantity while maintaining the ratio, and the new measuring cup marks eighths of a liter ($8$ parts):
Find the value of $x$ so that the fractions are equivalent:
$$\frac{3}{4} = \frac{x}{8}$$Copy into your notebook and complete the missing value in each case so that the pairs of fractions are equivalent: a) $\frac{1}{3} = \frac{\Box}{12}$ b)…
Copy into your notebook and complete the missing value in each case so that the pairs of fractions are equivalent:
- a) $\frac{1}{3} = \frac{\Box}{12}$
- b) $\frac{10}{15} = \frac{2}{\Box}$
- c) $\frac{\Box}{7} = \frac{20}{28}$
In an esports competition, one player has completed $42$ of the $60$ levels of a video game. Another player has completed the same proportion of levels, but the game…
In an esports competition, one player has completed $42$ of the $60$ levels of a video game. Another player has completed the same proportion of levels, but the game they are playing has a total of $90$ levels. How many levels has the second player completed? Solve this by finding the unknown term $x$ in the equivalent fractions equation.
Find the value of the unknown $n$ in each of the following equalities so that the fractions are equivalent: a) $\dfrac{n}{15} = \dfrac{12}{45}$ b)…
Find the value of the unknown $n$ in each of the following equalities so that the fractions are equivalent:
- a) $\dfrac{n}{15} = \dfrac{12}{45}$
- b) $\dfrac{7}{n} = \dfrac{28}{36}$
- c) $\dfrac{10}{18} = \dfrac{25}{n}$
To carry out a chemistry experiment, a laboratory needs to mix liquids in a ratio of $\frac{3}{8}$. If they have a container with a total capacity of $120$ ml for the…
To carry out a chemistry experiment, a laboratory needs to mix liquids in a ratio of $\frac{3}{8}$. If they have a container with a total capacity of $120$ ml for the mixture, how much active liquid should they pour in if they want to maintain the same ratio? Represent the situation using two equivalent fractions where the denominator of the second is $120$.
Find the value of the unknown $n$ so that the following fractions are equivalent: $$\frac{n-3}{10} = \frac{42}{60}$$ Once you have found $n$, find another fraction…
Find the value of the unknown $n$ so that the following fractions are equivalent:
$$\frac{n-3}{10} = \frac{42}{60}$$Once you have found $n$, find another fraction equivalent to the previous ones whose denominator is the square of $n$. Is it possible for the numerator of this last fraction to be a prime number? Justify your answer.
Recognizing equivalent fractions among several
When you have a list of fractions, simplifying all of them to their irreducible form is the safest way to see which ones are equivalent.
Identify, from the following list, which fractions are equivalent to $\frac{2}{3}$: $$\frac{4}{6}, \quad \frac{5}{9}, \quad \frac{10}{15}, \quad \frac{6}{8}, \quad…
Identify, from the following list, which fractions are equivalent to $\frac{2}{3}$:
$$\frac{4}{6}, \quad \frac{5}{9}, \quad \frac{10}{15}, \quad \frac{6}{8}, \quad \frac{20}{30}$$From the following fractions, identify which one does not belong to the group of equivalent fractions. Justify your answer by simplifying all of them to their simplest…
From the following fractions, identify which one does not belong to the group of equivalent fractions. Justify your answer by simplifying all of them to their simplest form.
$$\dfrac{6}{10}, \dfrac{15}{25}, \dfrac{24}{40}, \dfrac{18}{32}, \dfrac{9}{15}$$Draw a number line in your notebook (mark 0 and 1, and use a unit that is big enough, for example 8 small squares) and represent the following fractions on it. Show…
Draw a number line in your notebook (mark 0 and 1, and use a unit that is big enough, for example 8 small squares) and represent the following fractions on it. Show graphically that they are equivalent by observing that they are all located at the same point on the line:
$$\dfrac{1}{2}, \dfrac{2}{4}, \dfrac{4}{8}$$You can do it on paper and send a photo with your answer.
In a robotics competition, two robots must cover the same distance, from the Start to the Finish. The first robot has completed $\frac{42}{105}$ of the course. The…
In a robotics competition, two robots must cover the same distance, from the Start to the Finish. The first robot has completed $\frac{42}{105}$ of the course. The second robot has covered a fraction equivalent to the previous one, but its numerator and denominator are natural numbers whose sum is exactly $112$.
What fraction of the course has the second robot covered? Justify whether both robots are at the same point on the track and calculate the irreducible fraction that represents the position of both.
Find a fraction equivalent to $\frac{126}{198}$ that satisfies the following conditions simultaneously: 1. Its denominator is a number between $50$ and $100$. 2. The sum…
Find a fraction equivalent to $\frac{126}{198}$ that satisfies the following conditions simultaneously:
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Its denominator is a number between $50$ and $100$.
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The sum of the digits of the numerator and the sum of the digits of the denominator are each, separately, a multiple of $9$.
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It is a proper fraction.
Explain step by step the process of simplifying and expanding (multiplying) you followed to find it.
From repeating decimal to fraction
A repeating decimal is also a fraction. To find it (the generating fraction), you multiply the number by a power of $10$ to "shift" the decimal point until the repeating digits line up, and then you subtract the two numbers so that they disappear.
The arc over the digits marks the period, the part that repeats: $1.\widehat{36} = 1.363636\ldots$ (purely repeating, everything after the decimal point repeats) and $1.3\widehat{6} = 1.36666\ldots$ (mixed repeating, there are digits that don't repeat before the period).
Consider the purely recurring decimal $1,\widehat{36}$ and the mixed recurring decimal $1.3\widehat{6}$. 1. Find the generating fractions of both numbers and simplify…
Consider the purely recurring decimal $1,\widehat{36}$ and the mixed recurring decimal $1.3\widehat{6}$.
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Find the generating fractions of both numbers and simplify them until they are irreducible.
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Is either of these fractions equivalent to $\frac{60}{44}$?
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Is there a natural number by which you must multiply the denominator of the generating fraction of $1,\widehat{36}$ to obtain the denominator of the generating fraction of $1.3\widehat{6}$? Justify your answer.
Problems with equivalent fractions
In the hard problems, the ideas are combined: simplify to see the ratio, amplify to a convenient denominator, and set up an equality with an unknown.
An interface designer is working on the resolution of a new screen. The aspect ratio is $16:9$ (which means that for every $16$ units of width there are $9$ of height).…
An interface designer is working on the resolution of a new screen. The aspect ratio is $16:9$ (which means that for every $16$ units of width there are $9$ of height). Draw the diagram in your notebook. If the width of the screen is defined by a number $x$ and the height by a number $y$, find the values of $x$ and $y$ knowing that:
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$\frac{x}{y}$ is equivalent to $\frac{16}{9}$.
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The area of the rectangle formed ($x \times y$) is $576$ square units.
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$x$ and $y$ must be natural numbers.
You can do it on paper and send a photo with your answer.
Given the fraction $\frac{A}{B}$, we know it is equivalent to $\frac{4}{7}$. If we add $12$ units to the numerator, for the new fraction to be equivalent to the original…
Given the fraction $\frac{A}{B}$, we know it is equivalent to $\frac{4}{7}$. If we add $12$ units to the numerator, for the new fraction to be equivalent to the original one, the denominator must increase by $21$ units.
Prove whether this statement is true for any initial value of $A$ and $B$ that maintains the ratio $\frac{4}{7}$. Next, find a fraction equivalent to $\frac{4}{7}$ such that the product of its terms ($A \times B$) is $700$.
In a strategy video game, a character's health is represented by a bar. Currently, the character has $\frac{15}{24}$ of their total health. The player consumes a potion…
In a strategy video game, a character's health is represented by a bar. Currently, the character has $\frac{15}{24}$ of their total health. The player consumes a potion that increases current health by an amount such that the new fraction of health is equivalent to $\frac{11}{12}$ of total health.
If the denominator of the total health (maximum capacity) is $120$ points, how many health points exactly did the character recover with the potion? Express all fractions in the problem with a denominator of $120$ before solving it.