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Finding a fraction of an amount | Year 4 Mathematics PDF Download

What is a fraction?

  • A fraction is a way to represent parts of a whole. It tells you how many parts of the whole are being considered.
  • When dealing with fractions, you are essentially determining the value of a 'part' within a whole.
  • Fractions in Everyday Life:
    • Shops often advertise sales like "1/2 price" or "1/3 free", which are examples of fractions used in real-life scenarios.
    • When cooking or baking, you might encounter instructions like "add half a teaspoon of salt" or "use a 1/4 of a kilogram of flour", illustrating the practical use of fractions.

Quick Ways to Calculate Fractions of an Amount

Method 1: Using images to group

Using images to visually divide a fraction can be an effective way to determine a fraction of a quantity.
For example: What is 5/6 of 30?
Sol: 
Step 1: Examine the denominator to determine how many equal groups you need to divide 30 into. Since the denominator is 6, divide 30 into 6 groups.
Step 2: Separate 30 into these 6 groups, which can be shown using circles.
Finding a fraction of an amount | Year 4 MathematicsStep 3: Check the numerator to find out how many of these groups you need to consider (5).
Step 4: You will find that 5 groups contain 25 counters.
So, 5/6of 30 is 25.

Method 2: Using division and multiplication

Another quick method to calculate a fraction of an amount is to use this trick:
"Divide by the bottom and multiply by the top."
This means you divide the total amount by the denominator and then multiply the result by the numerator to find the answer.
For example: What is 5/12 of 96?
Sol: Step 1: 
Divide by the bottom…
96 ÷ 12 = 8
Step 2: …and times by the top.
8 x 5 = 40
Therefore: 5/12 of 96 is 40

Method 3: Bar model and calculator

  • Utilize a visual representation like a bar model to understand the fraction visually before calculation.
The document Finding a fraction of an amount | Year 4 Mathematics is a part of the Year 4 Course Year 4 Mathematics.
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FAQs on Finding a fraction of an amount - Year 4 Mathematics

1. What is a fraction?
Ans. A fraction is a number that represents a part of a whole. It consists of a numerator (top number) and a denominator (bottom number), separated by a fraction bar.
2. How can fractions be used to calculate amounts?
Ans. Fractions can be used to calculate amounts by multiplying or dividing the fraction by the total amount. This allows you to find a certain fraction of a given quantity.
3. How do you find a fraction of an amount in the UK school system?
Ans. In the UK school system, finding a fraction of an amount involves multiplying the fraction by the total amount. For example, to find 1/4 of 20, you would multiply 1/4 by 20 to get 5.
4. What are some common ways to calculate fractions of an amount quickly?
Ans. Some quick ways to calculate fractions of an amount include dividing by the denominator and multiplying by the numerator, using mental math strategies, and converting fractions to decimals for easier calculations.
5. Why is it important to understand how to calculate fractions of an amount?
Ans. Understanding how to calculate fractions of an amount is important as it is a fundamental math skill that is used in various real-life situations, such as cooking, shopping, and budgeting. It also helps improve problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
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