Curriculum › Math ›Grade 4

Grade 4 Math · Level 3, Equivalence, Operations & Decimals

Mixed Numbers & Like-Denominator Operations

How the lesson starts: Mixed Numbers & Like-Denominator Operations

1. Milo's pie shop

   Hi there! Baker Milo sells berry pies. Every pie is cut into 4 equal slices. On the shelf he has 2 whole pies and 3/4 of a pie. That's 2 3/4 pies! How many slices is that? Let's find out!

2. Count the slices

   Here are the pies. The first pie has 4 slices. The second pie has 4 more. The last one has 3 slices. That's 2 × 4 + 3 = 11 slices, each 1/4. So 2 3/4 = 11/4, an improper fraction!

3. Back to whole pies

   Now Milo has 14/6 of a cherry pie, cut in sixths. How many whole pies? 14 ÷ 6 = 2, with 2 slices left over. So 14/6 = 2 2/6. Simplify 2/6 by dividing top and bottom by 2. That's 2 1/3!