Fractions? Maths homework? Who’s scared? Fractions often seem to get many kids and parents upset. If you had trouble with maths at school, you might be feeling ill when your kids bring home their homework. Even if you had no problems at school, you might find both you and
your child get frustrated if you can’t explain things in a way in which they understand.
The following is a trick which might help; the sorts of questions it can help with is
- understanding fractions as bigger or smaller
- having to convert to equivalent fractions, eg one half is equal to two quarters
- adding or subtracting fractions
It’s a bit hard for me to show you on here – I've added the table as an image but it's a bit hard to see. If you can't understand what I mean, minti mail and and I'll email you a larger copy.
What you need to do –
- Either on the computer on by hand, make a rectangle 24 cm long (or a table with 12 rows, one column in on computer)
- Divide it into 12 two cm rows
- On the top row, write one whole
- On the second row, split it onto two equal boxes by drawing a vertical line down the middle. Write ½ in each box.
- Split the third row into three equal columns and write 1/3 in each.
- Continue for ¼, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/9, 1/10, 1/11 and 1/12.
Laminate the sheet, and grab a whiteboard or felt pen.
How to determine which fraction is larger. For example – ‘Which is larger, 4/7 or 1/3?’ To do this, shade in four boxes on the sevenths line (4/7) and one box on the thirds line (1/3). A quick inspection will show that 4/7 takes up more space, so it’s larger.
Converting to equivalent fractions For example – ‘Convert 2/3 to sixths’. To do this, colour in two of the boxes on the thirds line. Then look down to the sixths line and shade the same amount of space. This will be four boxes on the sixths line, so the answer is 4/6.
Adding or subtracting fractions. For example – ‘2/7 + 3/7 = ?’ Go to the sevenths line, colour in two boxes (2/7) then another 3 (3/7). Count the total number of boxes on the sevenths line, and you have your answer – 5/7.
If you don’t have access to a laminator, you can just use a lead pencil on paper and rub it out each time.
Let me know if this makes homework less stressful for your family!
Libby
(September 2007) (
