EmmyFA

**Extended response questions:**  1. How can you tell if two fractions are equivalent? They would have to have the same denominators. For example, if I had 1/2 of a chocolate bar, and you had 2/4 of a chocolate bar, you could simplify it in half so it would be 1/2 and they would be equal. 2. When is a fraction in simplest form? When you can no longer divide them so they would all be whole numbers. 3. Why do you need to find a common denominator before adding or subtracting fractions?  You can't subtract or add 3/4 and 5/9 because they don't have the same denominator, and the rule is that you have to have the same denominator to add or subtract. 4. 1/2-->1/4 : 1/4-->1/8 AND 1/3-->1/6 : 1/6--> _ 1/12 Why did you put that answer? What is the relationship between these pairs of fractions? I put that answer because the denominators are doubling. The relationship between these is the numerator is staying 1 and the denominators are doubling.  5. Crozet Elementary teachers want students to only use #2 pencils or #2 mechanical pencils. To make that happen, the school will now provide all pencils, but we need to figure out what fraction of each kind the school should keep on hand. Several facts are known: 1. Mechanical pencils last twice as long as regular ones. 2. Mechanical pencils may only be used in grades 3, 4, and 5. 3. Mechanical pencils may not be used on bubble tests. 4. There are about the same number of students in grades K-2 as there are in grades 3-5. Using the information provided, what fraction of the total number of pencils should be mechanical pencils? Explain your decision in detail, using the facts. I think it should be 3/8 because we wouldn't be able to use it on some tests, but they last long, and it would let us save time, not having to get up to sharpen pencils. The only other bad thing is that we would have to buy the lead.