TOPIC 3 · GRADE 3 FOUNDATION

Fractions on Number Lines and Beyond One

See fractions as distances and build improper fractions past one whole.

MA.3.FR.1.2–1.3

BIG IDEA

Each step on a fraction number line is one unit fraction. Repeating enough steps reaches one whole and can continue beyond it.

WHAT TO KNOW

The denominator tells how many equal intervals lie between consecutive whole numbers.
A fraction such as 5/4 means five steps of size 1/4.
Fractions can equal or exceed one; they are not limited to part of one shape.

WATCH OUT

Tick marks are points; the spaces between them are the equal fractional intervals.

TRY IT

Move a point beyond one and watch improper and mixed-number names agree.