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Lesson 10 of 10
  • Year 3

Substitute a fraction representing a whole to solve subtraction problems

I can substitute a fraction representing a whole to solve subtraction problems.

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View unit
Lesson 10 of 10
New
New
  • Year 3

Substitute a fraction representing a whole to solve subtraction problems

I can substitute a fraction representing a whole to solve subtraction problems.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A fraction with the same numerator and denominator is equal to one whole.
  2. To subtract a fraction from a whole, convert the whole to a fraction with the same denominator as the subtrahend.
  3. All fractions where the numerator and denominator are the same are equal and equal to 1

Keywords

  • Substitute - Substitute means to put in place of another and it can be used to replace a fraction with another fraction of equal value.

  • Expression - An expression contains one or more values, where each value is separated by an operator.

Common misconception

Children might struggle with the idea that two fractions, each with the same numerator and denominator but different numbers, can be equivalent. For example, four-fourths is equal to ten-tenths.

Use a fraction wall to help with this. Compare the rows and establish that the whole is the same so they are equivalent. Ask the children to list as many as they can which will help build confidence.


To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Substitute a fraction representing a whole to solve subtraction problems, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You might want to challenge the children to create their own puzzles with missing numerators using fraction notation and digit cards.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When the numerator and the denominator are the same, the fraction is equal to__________.

one half
two
Correct answer: one whole

Q2.
Match the number of parts in each whole.

Correct Answer:2,is the number of halves equal to one whole.

is the number of halves equal to one whole.

Correct Answer:6,is the number of sixths equal to one whole.

is the number of sixths equal to one whole.

Correct Answer:10 ,is the number of tenths equal to one whole.

is the number of tenths equal to one whole.

Correct Answer:4,is the number of quarters equal to one whole.

is the number of quarters equal to one whole.

Q3.
Which of these fractions are equivalent to 1?

Correct answer: $$ \frac{4}{4} $$
$$ \frac{1}{3} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{6}{6} $$
$$ \frac{1}{15} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{12}{12} $$

Q4.
Match the expressions to the correct fraction.

Correct Answer:$$ \frac{4}{10} $$ =,$$ \frac{10}{10} $$ − $$ \frac{6}{10} $$

$$ \frac{10}{10} $$ − $$ \frac{6}{10} $$

Correct Answer:$$ \frac{5}{8} $$ =,$$ \frac{8}{8} $$ − $$ \frac{3}{8} $$

$$ \frac{8}{8} $$ − $$ \frac{3}{8} $$

Correct Answer:$$ \frac{4}{6} $$ =,$$ \frac{6}{6} $$ − $$ \frac{2}{6} $$

$$ \frac{6}{6} $$ − $$ \frac{2}{6} $$

Correct Answer:$$ \frac{5}{12} $$ =,$$ \frac{12}{12} $$ − $$ \frac{7}{12} $$

$$ \frac{12}{12} $$ − $$ \frac{7}{12} $$

Q5.
What is the missing fraction in this equation?

An image in a quiz
$$ \frac{19}{12} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{5}{12} $$
$$ \frac{5}{0} $$

Q6.
Izzy has a multipack of 10 juice blast drinks. She drinks one on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. What fraction of the multipack is left?

An image in a quiz
$$ \frac{5}{10} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{6}{10} $$
$$ \frac{7}{10} $$

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
When the denominator and the numerator are the same, the fraction is __________ one whole.

greater than
less than
Correct answer: equivalent to

Q2.
Which of these fractions is not equivalent to one whole and so are less than one whole?

$$ \frac{2}{2} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{1}{2} $$
$$ \frac{3}{3} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{3}{4} $$
$$ \frac{4}{4} $$

Q3.
Which of the fractions can be represented by this image?

An image in a quiz
Correct answer: $$ \frac{3}{3} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{5}{5} $$
$$ \frac{4}{4} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{15}{15} $$
$$ \frac{10}{10} $$

Q4.
What fraction can I substitute for $$ \frac{3}{3} $$ to be able to find the answer?

An image in a quiz
$$ \frac{4}{4} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{10}{10} $$
$$ \frac{3}{10} $$

Q5.
What is the answer to this equation?

An image in a quiz
$$ \frac{1}{7} $$
$$ \frac{4}{3} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{6}{10} $$

Q6.
Compare the expressions. What is the missing symbol that will go between them? Remember to substitute so that the denominators in each expression are the same.

An image in a quiz
<
=
Correct answer: >