Fractions that Equal Whole Numbers The following fractions all equal 3. We can tell they equal 3 by looking at the fraction. The rule is a fractions equals 3 if the top number is three times the bottom number. Look at the following fractions: 9 Equals 3 because the top number 9 is three times the bottom number 3. 3 6 Equals 3 because 6 is three times the bottom number 2. 2 12 Equals 3 because 12 is three times the bottom number. 4 18 Equals 3 because 18 is three times the bottom number. 6

To figure out how many whole groups a fraction equals, start with the bottom number. See how many times bigger the top number is. Here’s 8 . The bottom number is 2. How many times the bottom number than 8? 2 Yes, 4 times. So what does the fraction equal? Right, it equals 4. Here’s 42 . The bottom number is 6. How many times the bottom number is 42? 6 Yes, 7 times. Right, it equals 7. Here’s 28 . The bottom number is 7. How many times the bottom number is 28? 7 So what does this fraction equal?

Copy the fractions on your scratch paper and write the whole number it equals. 1. 18 6. 4 2 1 2. 21 7. 48 3 6 3. 30 8. 50 5 10 4. 24 9. 8 8 4 5. 63 10. 56 9 7 equals 9 equals 4 = = = = equals 7 equals 8 = equals 6 = equals 5 equals 3 = = equals 2 = equals 7 = equals 8