Compare with circle models

Learn or teach by designing your own compare visual fractions examples. All examples are modeled with circles.

first fraction
second fraction
COMPARE WITH CIRCLE MODELS
SHOW COLOR
EXPLAIN
SHOW INPUT

INSTRUCTIONS

With Compare with Circles Designer you can design fractions examples that use circle models to demonstrate comparing fractions.

You can type the first and second fractions, each less than or equal to one.

Then press the <OK> button and the circle models for the fractions will appear.

Many fractions can be compared by visualizing them, or you may compare by writing each fraction over a common denominator. Fractions written with the same denominator are known as like fractions.

If fractions are unlike, or have different denominators, you may make them like by writing over a common denominator. Here, the idea of the least common denominator or LCD can be used. For the fractions 34 and 23, The LCD is the smallest number that both denominators 4 and 3 will divide into evenly.

The LCD for the fractions 34 and 23 is 12 because both denominators 4 and 3 divide evenly into 12. Writing each fraction with the common denominator 12 will give you 912 and 812. You can now compare the numerators.

Uncheck the <EXPLAIN> check box to turn off the answer and the explanation. You can ask your students to complete the number sentence.

Uncheck the <SHOW INPUT> check box to make the input dialog boxes work like a password input boxes, hiding the numbers you input. With <EXPLAIN> and <SHOW INPUT> unchecked you can ask your students to write a number sentence that explains the picture.

With <EXPLAIN> and <SHOW COLOR> unchecked you can ask your students to shade the indicated fractions and complete the number sentence that explains the picture.


Suggestions:

Keep one of the fractions the same size, but change the size of the numerator and denominator of the other fraction and compare.

Demonstrate equivalent fractions with 23 and 46 or 15 and 210 .

Show with the fractions 56 and 57 that the larger the denominator the smaller the fraction and with the fractions 511 and 611 the larger the numerator the larger the fraction.


WINDOWS COMPUTERS

Windows users can select any part of the screen by right clicking and selecting "Take a screenshot". Adjust to fit mage you want. This copies the selection into Windows Clipboard™. The screen can then be pasted into Windows Paint™ or your favorite imaging program. Or you can select "Download" which will put the image into your files "Download" folder.

IPADS

To take a screen shot with the Ipad first press the Sleep/Wake button at the top right of the Ipad. While holding the Sleek/Wake button press and release the round Home button at the bottom of the screen. You should see a photo of the screen by going to the Home page and pressing the Photos icon.