Fractions

Rational Numbers

Grades 8 and 9

Teacher Document

Malati staff involved in developing these materials:

Karen Newstead
Hanlie Murray
Therine van Niekerk

COPYRIGHT
All the materials developed by MALATI are in the public domain. They may be freely used and adapted, with
acknowledgement to MALATI and the Open Society Foundation for South Africa.

December 1999

MALATI materials: Rational numbers

Rational Numbers for Grade 8 and 9
Some general remarks:
• Research in Grades 8 and 9, locally and internationally, has shown that learners have a poor
conception of rational numbers e.g. they believe that the more numbers after the decimal
comma, the bigger (or smaller) the number (e.g. that 0,54 is bigger than 0,7).
• This is often caused by a poor conception of common fractions.
• The more mechanical calculations pupils carry out, the further they ‘hide’ their
misconceptions.
• Regular rational number concept development, and where necessary, remediation of basic
rational number concepts, is important in Grades 8 and 9. The purpose with this short
"intervention" package is to provide teachers with appropriate learning activities to try to
address learners' problems with rational numbers.

Content of this package:

Fractions (4 sessions)

1) Simple sharing problems with remainders – pupils should draw the solution and express
their answers as common fractions.
2) Developing equivalent fractions using the ‘fractions wall’ (a wider range of fractions than
the traditional ‘fractions families’).
3) A word problem which can be solved in a variety of ways (using various operations with
fractions).
4) The log of wood (multiplication of fractions) – a problem which provides the opportunity to
reflect on how fractions are named, and what the name means.

(Homework: Snakes/chains)

Decimal fractions (At least 4 sessions)

5) Introductory activities using calculators: Comparing own solutions with calculator

solutions, and reflecting on the meaning of the calculator answer.
6) Counting using the calculator and/or sequencing: Decimal place value
7) Calculator games: Decimal place value
8) Word problems (Choice of 2): Operations with decimals and beliefs about decimals

MALATI materials: Rational numbers

 Sharing Chocolate Teacher Notes:

The MALATI approach to introducing fractions to learners makes use of

equal sharing situations with a remainder that can be shared out. We also
use this type of problem to remediate conceptual problems with fractions,
and to help learners overcome limited concepts related to learners having
been exposed to halves and quarters only.

For this task learners should not express their answers as decimals. We
encourage learners to draw their solutions. One reason for this is that the
teacher can easily diagnose which learners are experiencing conceptual
1. Three friends share four Chocbars equally. How much Chocbar does
problems and which are simply not able to name or write the fraction. The
each friend get? Use a diagram to show your answer. latter is social knowledge which can be given by the teacher or by peers.

2. Three friends share five Chocbars equally. How much Chocbar does
each friend get? Use a diagram to show your answer.

3. Two friends share eleven Chocbars equally. How much Chocbar does
each friend get? Use a diagram to show your answer.

4. Three friends share eleven Chocbars equally. How much Chocbar

does each friend get? Use a diagram to show your answer.

5. Ten friends share twenty-two Chocbars equally. How much Chocbar

does each friend get? Use a diagram to show your answer.

6. Five friends share twenty-two Chocbars equally. How much Chocbar

does each friend get? Use a diagram to show your answer.

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 1

 Which Piece is Bigger? Teacher Notes:

Here are some Chocbars that been cut into different equal pieces: This worksheet addresses the equivalence of fractions and comparisons
between sizes of different fractions. Learners may need to use direct
physical comparisons of the fractions, in other words the ‘fractions wall’.
Other methods (such as converting to appropriate equivalent fractions with
the same denominators) are also acceptable, as long as it is clear that the
learners understand why they are doing what they are doing.

The teacher should use his/her discretion as regards the ensuing

discussion about the effect of the denominator on the size of the fractions.
Learners should make sense of the relationship based on their
observations of ‘how many pieces’ rather than memorise a rule. Many
primary school learners simply remember that ‘the bigger the fraction looks
the smaller it is’ which leads to problems when the numerator is not 1 and
in the case of decimal fractions.

1. Fill in the appropriate fractions on each piece of Chocbar.

2. Which piece is bigger?

1 2 1 1
a) or e) or
3 6 7 8

1 3 7 4
b) or f) or
2 5 15 8

2 3 9 6
c) or g) or
4 6 18 10

5 2
d) or
10 5

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 2

 Mrs Daku Bakes Apple Tarts Teacher Notes:

For this problem, discussion of various strategies and answers is essential.

Learners who zoom in on an operation or number sentence often make the
3
wrong choice ( OF 20). They should be encouraged to keep the problem
4
in mind, and discussion with peers will help to clarify that their answer is
not reasonable in terms of the problem.

Learners should be allowed to draw their solutions, and should in fact be

3 encouraged to do so even if they used a more formal mathematical
Mrs. Daku bakes small apple tarts. She uses 4 of an apple for one apple method.
tart. She has 20 apples. How many tarts can she bake? 3
The structure of the problem is actually division by a fraction (20 ÷ ). The
4
teacher may or may not wish to point this out depending on the nature of
the discussion which follows. If some learners have solved the problems
by working out that there are 80 quarters, and thus 803
groups of three-
quarters, the teacher may wish to point out the resemblance to the ‘invert-
and-multiply’ rule which some learners may remember. However, learners
should not be expected to memorise this method if they do not understand
it.

4
Some learners may find out by trial and error that 20 x gives them a
3

reasonable answer, but not be able to explain why this works. They should
be encouraged to draw the solution. Discrepancies in the remainders
4 80 2
should be discussed: 20 x gives =26 (TARTS) which is different
3 3 3

to the result of more diagrammatic solutions which give 26 TARTS and

2 1
or APPLE. Drawings should help to clarify this discrepancy.
4 2

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 3

 The Log of Wood Teacher Notes:

Three brothers buy a log of stinkwood. Their mother says that she will take Learners should not have trouble solving this problem with the help of a
drawing, but may have trouble naming each brother’s share.
over a fifth of the log. The brothers share the remaining wood equally.
What fraction of the original log does each brother get? Learners may solve this in various ways, for example:

Brother 1 Brother 2 Brother 3 2 Mother

1 1
Each brother gets a big piece and a small piece: +
5 15
Each big piece is the same as three small pieces so each brother gets
3 1 4
+ = .
15 15 15

Other learners may solve the problem as follows:

Brother 1
Mother
Brother 2
Brother 3

4
Each brother gets a row of small pieces: .
15

In both cases, the teacher can ask “How do we know that the small piece
is a fifteenth?” or “Why fifteenths?”.

1 4 4 4 1
Abstractly, this problem can be represented as × or ÷3 = × . The
3 5 5 5 3
diagrammatic solution illustrates how the abstract calculation actually

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 4

works. Learners must therefore be encouraged to verbalise and share their
solutions.

In the process of observing learners solve this problem, we have come to

question our traditional method of first teaching the learners how to
multiply and then giving them such problems. In our experience they can
reflect on the meaning of multiplication and division in the process of
solving this problem.

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 5

 Snake

Complete the following diagram:

1 +
1 + 1 + 1
4 4 4

1
+
4

+ 1 + 1 + 1
4 4 4

1
+
4

1 1 1
+ + +
4 4 4

+ 1
4

1 1 1
+ + +
4 4 4

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 6

 Sharing With and Without the Calculator Teacher Notes:

The purpose of this task is to enable learners to assign meaning to

1. Share 21 sausages equally among 10 friends. Draw your answer.
decimals as an alternative notation for fractions. It is very important that
Now do this problem on your calculator. What do you think the answer the learners experience the calculator answers as simply a different
notation/expression for their own common fraction answers.
on the calculator means? Explain.
The learners should not be told the ‘logic’ of the decimal notation (i.e. that
the digit after the comma means tenths etc.) before they have done this
2. Share 21 sausages equally among 5 friends. Draw your answer.
activity.
Now do this problem on your calculator. What do you think the answer
Understanding of equivalent fractions is necessary for learners to find, for
on the calculator means? Explain.
example, the decimal equivalent of 2 25 . They should not, however, be
expected to simply remember that 0.4 actually means 4 tenths – to start off
3. Share 21 sausages equally among 2 friends. Draw your answer. with it is sufficient that they merely regard ‘0.4’ as an alternative notation of
2
What answer do you think your calculator will give? Why? 5 . As they progress through the activity and discuss their answers, they

Now do it on the calculator. Were you correct? should make more sense of the decimal notation.

What does the answer on the calculator mean?

For the next four problems, first do the problem yourself, then say what
answer you think the calculator will give, then do it on the calculator.

4. Share 15 chocolates equally among 10 friends.

5. Share 17 chocolates equally among 10 friends.
6. Share 18 chocolates equally among 5 friends.
7. Share 17 chocolates equally among 2 friends.

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 7

 The Counting Machine Teacher Notes:

The calculator can be used as a counting machine. For example, here are For this activity, learners need to know how to programme their calculators
two ways in which calculators can be programmed to count in 3’s: to count using a certain interval. Most calculators can be programmed to
do this and can thus be turned into a “counting machine”. Different
• Press 3 + = . If you keep on pressing = , the calculator will go on calculators have different procedures, so learners should play with their
own calculators to find out if they can be programmed and if so, how this
counting in 3’s. However, if you press any of the operation functions can be done.
(+; −; ×; ÷) or clear the screen, you have to start the process from the
The two methods given for programming a calculator to count in 3’s can be
beginning again. You can press any number (without clearing the
replaced by an adequate teacher explanation/whole-class discussion,
screen) and the calculator will count in 3’s from that number onwards.
before learners attempt the activities.
For example: Press 3 + = . Now press 4 1 and = = = …
Your calculator should give 44; 47; 50; 53; …
• Press 3 + + = and follow the same procedures as above.

Now try the following:

1. Programme your calculator to count in 0,1’s. Press the = key

several times and count aloud with the calculator. Count up to 2,5.

2. Programme your calculator to count in 0,01’s. Now enter 0,9 and

press = . Keep on pressing the = key and count aloud with the
calculator. Count up to 1,2.

3. Programme your calculator to count in 0,1’s. Now enter 111,11111

and press = . Keep on pressing the = key. What do you notice?

4. Programme your calculator to count in 0,01’s. Now enter 111,11111

and press = Keep on pressing the = key. What do you notice?

5. Programme your calculator to count in 0,001’s. Now enter 111,11111

and press = . Keep on pressing the = key. What do you notice?

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 8

 Sequencing p0,15 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
1. Complete the following sequences. Add the first number repeatedly. _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
Check your answers with a calculator after each sequence. If you find _____; _____; _____
a mistake, write down why you think it occurred. q0,09 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
n 0,2 ; 0,4 ; 0,6 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
_____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____
_____; _____; _____; _____ r0,125 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
o 0,3 ; 0,6 ; 0,9 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
_____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____
_____; _____; _____; _____
3. Start with the given number and do the operation in brackets at least
p 0,4 ; 0,8 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
10 times.
_____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
_____; _____; _____ E.g. 0,8 (+ 0,2) → 1,0 + 0,2 → 1,2 + 0,2 → 1,4 + 0,2 → ….

q 0,5 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; n 6,4 (+ 0,3) → 6,7 →
_____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; o 4,42 (+ 0,1) →
_____; _____; _____; _____ p 8,4 (– 0,3) →
r 0,6 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; q 0,3 (+ 0,4) →
_____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; r 1,37 (– 0,1) →
_____; _____; _____; _____ s 11,6 (– 0,4) →
2. More sequences....complete as before. t 12,67 (– 0,9) →
n0,25 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; u 25,6 (halve) → 12,8 →
_____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
_____; _____; _____
o0,05 ; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
_____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____; _____;
_____; _____; _____

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 9

4. Again, start with the given number and do the operation in brackets at Teacher Notes:
least 10 times.
This activity should first be done by hand and checked afterwards, with a
E.g. 0,82 (+ 0,02) → 0,84 + 0,02 → 0,86 + 0,02 → 0,88 + 0,02 → …. calculator. Again the calculator can be programmed to do this (see
’Counting Machine’), giving immediate feedback to the learner, for example
in the case of the common misconception that the decimal point is merely a
n 6,43 (+ 0,03) → 6,46 → point between whole numbers: 2,8 + 0,2 = 2,10.
o 4,42 (+ 0,01) →
By checking their answers with the calculator, learners might discover their
p 8,44 (– 0,03) → own misconceptions and try to resolve them. The teacher should
discourage them from simply copying the calculator answers. They should
q 0,3 (+ 0,15) → not be allowed do all the sequences before checking on the calculator, but
r 1,37 (– 0,04) → should be encouraged to discuss each sequence after checking it on the
calculator.
s 11,6 (– 0,03) →
t 2,67 (– 0,09) → The teacher should ensure that learners do not use the ‘=’ sign incorrectly.
The arrow sign is acceptable (and preferable) in Questions 3 and 4. The
u 112,64 (halve) → 56,32 → teacher should also help the learners to verbalise decimals correctly, e.g.
“six comma four three’ not ‘six comma forty-three’. In the case of ‘nought
point ten’, the significance of the zero at the end should be discussed and
learners should conclude that this the same as nought point one and
therefore smaller than nought point eight.

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 10

Decimal Invaders Teacher Notes: Decimal Invaders

Procedures to play the game: This activity can also be used as a diagnostic activity to see which learners
still need help and which learners have mastered decimal place value.
1. Two players need one calculator Mistakes provide valuable learning opportunities, and learners should be
2. Player 1 enters any decimal number e.g. given enough time to resolve these.
43,598. This number must be ’shot down’
(replaced by 0 by subtracting).
3. Players take turns to ’shoot down’ a digit. (One at a time.)
4. The player that ends with 0 wins.
5. If a player changes the number on the screen but does not shoot down
a digit, the other player gets two turns.

Example:
Press Number on screen

Player 1: 43.598 43.598

Player 2: − 0.5 = 43.098 - The ’5’ has been shot down.

Player 1: − 40 = . 3.098 - The ’4’ has been shot down.

Repeat this with different numbers!

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 11

 Paper Teacher Notes:

This task mainly concerns hundredths. This concept (along with tenths,
How thick do you think one sheet of paper is? Can you measure it with
thousandths and later ten thousandths, etc.) is needed for a stable number
your ruler? concept. The learners must be given time to make sense of this on their
own.
Dumisani has a bright idea. He measures 100 sheets of paper. The stack
is 14 mm thick.
In question (a) the learners might divide 14 into 100 equal parts. The
14
answer 100 is quite acceptable. Learners should not be forced to write the
1. Calculate how thick each sheet of paper is.
answer as 0,14 or to simplify the fraction. However, discussion between
peers should help to develop this concept.
2. How thick will a document of 7 pages be?
Questions 2 and 3 present practical situations in which a whole number is
multiplied by a fraction.
3. If 245 copies of this document are printed and
1
Question 3 can be given as homework if the class has discussed that 100
stacked on top of one another, how high will the
can be written as 0,01.
stack be?

4. Complete the diagram:

+ 0,01 + 0,01 + 0,01

3,5
+ 0,01

+ 0,01 + 0,01 + 0,01

+ 0,01

+ 0,01 + 0,01 + 0,01

+ 0,01

+ 0,01 + 0,01 + 0,01

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 12

 Marking Homework Teacher Notes:

The following worksheet was given to Zanele for homework. Mark the This is a very good activity for the learners to challenge their own beliefs
about decimal fractions. It can elicit a lot of discussion and the teacher
work, correcting all the mistakes.
should allow the learners to discuss the issues thoroughly. Reflection on
their own concepts while learners are doing this can lead to a more stable
concept of decimal fractions and make them more aware of the ‘potholes’
Decimals: Name: which lead to common mistakes.

1. Write 0,2 as a common fraction:

2. Write 3,5 as a common fraction:

3. 3,6 + 0,3 =

4. 4,8 + 4,3 =

5. 0,7 - 0,1 =

6. 0,27 - 0,1 =

Write down the next three terms in each sequence:

7. 0,2 ; 0,4 ; 0,6 ; ____ ; ____ ; ____ (Adding 0,2’s)

8. 1,2 ; 0,9 ; ____ ; ____ ; ____ (Subtracting 0,3’s)

9. 0,34 ; 0,36 ; ____ ; ____ ; ____ (Adding 0,02’s)

10. 0,5 ; ____ ; ____ ; ____ (Adding 0,05’s)

11. 0,25 ; _____ ; _____ ; _____ (Doubling)

12. 0,8 ; 0,4 ; 0,2 ; ____ ; ____ ; ____ (Halving)

MALATI materials: Fractions: rational numbers 13