Fractions / Multiplying Fractions by a Whole Number

Understanding

Have students explain how the visualization on the top number line is related to the value of the product; 6 x (1/5) can be seen as "6 copies of the unit fraction (1/5)"

What to look for

Have students work together using the interactive number line to find the product of two numbers, then have them find an equivalent fraction for the product.

Sample Assessment

Insert values into the blanks to make a true statement 

(a number may be used more than once). 

3, 5, 6, 8, 2, 10, 12

The Big Idea

Multiplying (a/b) by the whole number c, produces c copies of  (a/b) joined end to end on the number line.

What are the students doing?

Students will use number lines to develop the concept of fraction multiplication.

What is the teacher doing?

As students write their solutions remind them that that order in which they write the factors does not affect the product.