Explain how to find the equivalent fraction of 1/2.

To find the equivalent fraction of 1/2, multiply the numerator and denominator by the same number.

To delve deeper, an equivalent fraction is one that represents the same value or proportion of the whole as the original fraction. For 1/2, you can create an equivalent fraction by multiplying both the numerator (the top number) and the denominator (the bottom number) by the same non-zero integer. For example, if you multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 2, you get (1×2)/(2×2) = 2/4. Similarly, multiplying by 3 gives (1×3)/(2×3) = 3/6. Both 2/4 and 3/6 are equivalent to 1/2 because they represent the same part of a whole.

This method works because multiplying both parts of the fraction by the same number does not change the overall value of the fraction. It’s like scaling up or down a recipe; the proportions remain the same. You can use any integer to create an equivalent fraction, so long as you apply it to both the numerator and the denominator. For instance, multiplying by 5 gives (1×5)/(2×5) = 5/10, which is also equivalent to 1/2.

Understanding equivalent fractions is crucial in many areas of maths, including simplifying fractions, comparing fractions, and solving equations involving fractions. It’s a fundamental concept that helps in recognising that different fractions can express the same quantity.