Equivalent fractions

Equivalent fractions are fractions which appear to be different but they’re the same. When comparing the fractions and working out the fractions you will begin to realise that they’re equivalent.

In this maths post you will be simply comparing fractions and finding out the missing values the numerator or the denominator. The following image shows an example of equivalent fractions.

Equivalent fractions

Example

Find the missing value

First we compare the denominators…

Here we realise that the denominator of the first fraction has been multiplied by 2 to get the second denominator. This means we must also multiply the numerator by 2 to get the other numerator.

Both these two fractions are equivalent…

Example 2

Find the missing denominator in the equivalent fractions below.

Here we compare the numerators and realise it has been multiplied by 4 which means we have to do the same to the denominator.

Both these two fractions are absolutely equivalent.