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Same Whole, Fair Comparison: Comparing Fractions

📑 10 slides 👁 27 views 📅 1/28/2026
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Today’s Big Idea

You can only compare fractions when the WHOLE is the same.

Today’s Big Idea
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Key Vocabulary

  • Whole = the total thing we started with.
  • Fraction = a part of the whole.
  • To compare fairly, we need the same-size whole.
Key Vocabulary
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Catchphrase

  • Same whole → fair comparison.
  • Different whole → not fair!
  • Chant: Same whole or no deal!
Catchphrase
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Example 1: Half of a Tall vs Short Person

  • Two people are cut into halves.
  • Both are 1/2 but are the halves the same size?
Example 1: Half of a Tall vs Short Person
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What We Learn From the People Example

  • Even though both are 1/2, the wholes were different.
  • So the halves are different sizes.
  • Same fraction ≠ same size if the whole is different.
What We Learn From the People Example
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Example 2: Money (This One Sticks!)

  • Half of $1 = 50¢.
  • Half of $100 = $50.
  • Are 50¢ and $50 the same?
Example 2: Money (This One Sticks!)
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Example 3: Pizza 🍕

  • 1/2 of a small pizza vs 1/2 of a large pizza.
  • Did we eat the same amount?
  • Fractions only make sense when the wholes are the same size.
Example 3: Pizza 🍕
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Tie It Back to Math: Comparing Fractions

  • When we compare fractions, we must check the whole first.
  • If the wholes match, comparing is fair.
  • If the wholes don’t match, the comparison is not fair.
Tie It Back to Math: Comparing Fractions
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Quick Check (Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down)

  • Can I compare 1/2 of $1 to 1/2 of $100? ❌
  • Can I compare 1/3 and 1/2 of the same-size pizza? ✅
  • Can I compare halves from a big and small rectangle? ❌
Quick Check (Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down)
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Exit Ticket: Same Whole or No Deal

  • 1) Circle: Fair or Not Fair.
  • 2) Write: The whole is ______.
  • 3) Explain in 1 sentence: Why?
Exit Ticket: Same Whole or No Deal
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