Another 6Th Grade Math Question - HELP

I like Victoria's answer. Convert them all to the same denominator. Then sort the numerators from smallest to largest. This also helps with the conceptual part.

Converting the fractions is easy to explain. Basically, 5/5 (or 4/4 or 3/3, ...) is equivalent to one. Multiplying any number by one results in the original number. So 3/5 * 2/2 = 6/10 (which is equivalent to the original number, 3/5). If you have three fractions, each with a different denominator (1/3, 3/4, 2/5), you will want to convert them all to have a denominator of 60 (i.e., 3 * 4 * 5). This results in 20/60 (1/3 * 20/20), 45/60 (3/4 * 15/15), and 24/60 (2/5 * 12/12). These are easy to put in order.

Have to get a common denominator (those pesky equivalent fractions you were just dealing with), then order them by the resulting numerators.

How to explain?? "The denominator - which number is that? (wait for answer) good - The denominators have to be the same on all of the fractions first. So, first we need to find the Least Common Multiple of all of the denominators. (They should have already done LCMs if they're doing equivalent fractions.) Okay, now that we have our LCM, let's look at the first fraction: What do we have to multiply this denominator by to get our LCM? (say the actual number, but I don't have a number, so I'm still saying LCM) Okay, good! Now, we have to multiply a fraction by "1" to keep it the same, so what number do we have to multiply the numerator by so that we're keeping everything the same?"

Then let her finish that one and see if she can work the rest by herself. Leading questions are the best way to go about it and MAKE SURE you use the proper terms (numerator, denominator, etc) because otherwise you eventually end up with a 9th grader who doesn't know those terms. Hope this helps!!

Check out Khan Academy for any math problems, it explains them in front of your eyes on the computer screen.

Google "fraction stick chart". It is a good beginning basic visual aid. There are many tools, worksheets, etc online.

You could make them all into decimals and compare them that way... but that may not be what the teacher has explained to them or how she wants them to work the problems.
You also could make them all have the same denominator, and then compare the numerators.

Without being there I don't know. She could convert them to decimal which would make it obvious. It is always looking at them as they relate to the whole.

50/99 is smaller than 3/4 it is not the size of either number but how much of a whole they are.

LoveTeachingMath is spot on (no surprise there, since she teaches math)!

This is just so important, and I cannot emphasis that enough. I teach remedial math at a university, and it's amazing how many students do not understand how to work with fractions. It's really not that complicated, but they have to work through the challenging phase of it being new and strange until they "get it."

In order to enter college level math, students need to be able to work with fractions that have numbers only and work with fractions that have letters (x & y). This is very, very important. Help her learn this now so she's not paying to take remedial math classes that she will not receive credit for.

Yep, www.khanacademy.org
Its free and even Bill Gates is a huge fan of it.
My Hubby has used it and both my kids.
The method is even being adopted by some schools.

But, VISUALLY explain it to your child.
Not just on paper, but with an object... like a pizza or pie, that you cut up.
The smaller the number, the bigger the piece.
1/4 is bigger than 1/8.
Are they just learning basic fractions now in 6th grade?

My younger son is great with conceptual issues like this . . . me, not so much. He can convert fractions to decimals like nobody's business.

When my kids were much smaller I would try to demonstrate it with paper or plastic cups.

I.e., 2/25 would be two cups out of a total of 25 cups.

2 out of 4 is the same thing as 1 out of 2 (both are half the total cups). 2 out 4 is less than 3 out of 4.

Some kids do better with a visual explanation. I feel for you - this was not easy for me either.

You've got to get the bottom number (denominator) to be the same, which means finding equivalent fractions. Say I give you 2/3 and 6/8. Which one's greater? You can't really tell until you get the denominator the same, so you have to figure out what 3 and 8 can both go into or just use the 3 and 8. Remember you are always multiplying by 1 to get an equivalent fraction. Take 2/3 X 8/8 =16/24 and 6/8 X 3/3 =18/24. Now you have 16/24 compared to 18/24, well it's obvious that 18/24 >16/24 so the answer is 6/8, since 6/8 = 18/24.

The easiest way would be to show her using a pie chart or something of that nature.