I know that a fraction (a/b) with a greater than 1 is a sum of fractions (1/b)

 This actually isn’t difficult.  Let’s use numbers instead of letters  Let’s look at ¾  = 3, right?  So ¼ + ¼ + ¼ = ¾

 Yup.  That’s the whole enchilada.  Hook, line and sinker  The whole kit and caboodle.  The long and the short of it.  And feel free to add any other idioms.

 I guess I should tell you that this is called DECOMPOSING fractions.  While it’s very easy, it’s also very important.  It will help you later when you have to convert improper fractions or add and subtract mixed numbers…  But that’s another story.

 Decompose the following fractions  7/8  2/3 ¾¾  2/5  You go on ahead…  I’ll just wait here…  I’ll find something to do…  Just let me know when you’re ready…  Any time now…

 7/8 = 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8  2/3 = 1/3 + 1/3  ¾ = ¼ + ¼ + ¼  2/5 = 1/5 + 1/5  Easy, right?

 Here’s a model for decomposing fractions: ==  Pretty easy ***

 When you think of decomposing…  You might think of zombies…  They decompose, that’s why they’re so ugly…  Here’s a picture of you getting out of bed this morning

 I know addition / subtraction of fractions as joining and separating parts referring to the SAME whole.  Okay, this is easy too.  When you’re adding 1/3 + 1/3, you’re adding the thirds from the same whole thing, not 2 different things.  This gets confusing sometimes because we draw models with 2 different pictures.  You should think of them as before / after snapshots.  You think you can do that?  Pretty please with sugar on top…

 Finally, some action!  Okay, you know there’s more than 1 way to skin a cat, right?  So there’s more than 1 way to get to a sum.  2+2=4, 3+1=4, 0+4=4  Get it?  Good  Now, Quit skinning cats!

 So with fractions, we can decompose 4/5 in different ways.  1/5 + 3/5  2/5 + 2/5  1/5 + 1/5 + 2/5  1/5 + 1/5 + 1/5 + 1/5  See what I mean?

 Decompose the following fraction in as many ways as you can  9/10  Don’t worry about me…  You go on ahead without me…  I’ll be fine…  All alone…  By myself…

 9/10  1/10 + 8/10  2/10 + 7/10  3/10 + 6/10  4/10 + 5/10  1/10 + 2/10 + 3/10 + 3/10  1/10 + 2/10 + 6/10  1/10 + 3/10 + 5/10 …… ……  I bet we could do this all day.

 Decomposing fractions will come in handy for Standards 4NF3c and d.  Now…  LET’S ROCK!!!!