In Saxon Math Intermediate 4, Grade 4 students learn how to draw pictures of fractions by dividing shapes such as rectangles, squares, and circles into equal parts and shading a specified number of those parts. The lesson covers representing common fractions like one half, one third, two thirds, and three fourths visually, and asks students to verify whether a figure is correctly shaded for a given fraction.
Section 1
📘 Drawing Pictures of Fractions
We can understand fractions better if we learn to draw pictures that represent fractions.
Next, you’ll practice this skill by drawing and shading fractions of common shapes like rectangles and circles.
Section 2
Drawing Pictures of Fractions
A fraction such as can be represented by dividing a whole shape into equal parts and then shading or selecting of those parts.
To represent of a rectangle: Divide the rectangle into 3 equal vertical strips and then shade 2 of them.
To show of a circle: Divide the circle into 4 equal wedges, like a pizza, and then shade 3 of the wedges.
To draw of a square: Draw a single line down the middle to make two equal halves and shade one side.
Think of it like sharing a candy bar. To show , you first break the bar into 3 perfectly equal pieces (that's the denominator!). Then, you get to point to 2 of those delicious pieces (the numerator). This turns abstract fraction numbers into an easy-to-see picture!
Section 3
The Rule of Equal Parts
To correctly represent a fraction visually, the whole shape must be divided into parts of equal size. If the parts are not equal, the shaded area does not accurately represent the fraction.
A circle cut into two pieces, one big and one small, does NOT correctly show .
A rectangle divided into 3 strips of different widths does NOT correctly show .
To correctly show , a square must be divided into four smaller squares of the exact same size.
Imagine sharing a pizza. You can't give your friend a tiny sliver and keep the giant rest while calling it 'half'! For fractions to be fair and accurate, every single piece you divide the shape into must be exactly the same size. No cheating by making some parts bigger!
Section 4
What Fraction Is Shaded?
To identify the fraction shown in a figure, count the total number of equal parts to find the denominator. Then, count the number of shaded parts to find the numerator. The fraction is .
A rectangle is divided into 5 equal bars and 3 are shaded. The fraction is .
A circle is cut into 8 equal slices and 5 are shaded. The fraction is .
A grid has 10 total squares and 7 are shaded. The fraction represented is .
Become a fraction detective! Your first mission is to count all the equal pieces in a shape—that gives you the bottom number (denominator). Your second mission is to count only the shaded pieces—that's your top number (numerator). Put them together, and you've solved the mystery of the fraction!
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Section 1
📘 Drawing Pictures of Fractions
We can understand fractions better if we learn to draw pictures that represent fractions.
Next, you’ll practice this skill by drawing and shading fractions of common shapes like rectangles and circles.
Section 2
Drawing Pictures of Fractions
A fraction such as can be represented by dividing a whole shape into equal parts and then shading or selecting of those parts.
To represent of a rectangle: Divide the rectangle into 3 equal vertical strips and then shade 2 of them.
To show of a circle: Divide the circle into 4 equal wedges, like a pizza, and then shade 3 of the wedges.
To draw of a square: Draw a single line down the middle to make two equal halves and shade one side.
Think of it like sharing a candy bar. To show , you first break the bar into 3 perfectly equal pieces (that's the denominator!). Then, you get to point to 2 of those delicious pieces (the numerator). This turns abstract fraction numbers into an easy-to-see picture!
Section 3
The Rule of Equal Parts
To correctly represent a fraction visually, the whole shape must be divided into parts of equal size. If the parts are not equal, the shaded area does not accurately represent the fraction.
A circle cut into two pieces, one big and one small, does NOT correctly show .
A rectangle divided into 3 strips of different widths does NOT correctly show .
To correctly show , a square must be divided into four smaller squares of the exact same size.
Imagine sharing a pizza. You can't give your friend a tiny sliver and keep the giant rest while calling it 'half'! For fractions to be fair and accurate, every single piece you divide the shape into must be exactly the same size. No cheating by making some parts bigger!
Section 4
What Fraction Is Shaded?
To identify the fraction shown in a figure, count the total number of equal parts to find the denominator. Then, count the number of shaded parts to find the numerator. The fraction is .
A rectangle is divided into 5 equal bars and 3 are shaded. The fraction is .
A circle is cut into 8 equal slices and 5 are shaded. The fraction is .
A grid has 10 total squares and 7 are shaded. The fraction represented is .
Become a fraction detective! Your first mission is to count all the equal pieces in a shape—that gives you the bottom number (denominator). Your second mission is to count only the shaded pieces—that's your top number (numerator). Put them together, and you've solved the mystery of the fraction!
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter