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Year 3

Use repeated addition of a unit fraction to form 1

I can use repeated addition of a unit fraction to form 1

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Year 3

Use repeated addition of a unit fraction to form 1

I can use repeated addition of a unit fraction to form 1

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When the numerator and denominator are the same, the fraction is equal to 1
  2. Repeated addition of unit fractions forms a fraction equal to 1
  3. A number line represents the repeated addition of unit fractions to total 1

Keywords

  • Unit fraction - A unit fraction is a fraction where the numerator is 1

  • Non-unit fraction - A non-unit fraction is a fraction where the numerator is greater than 1

  • Denominator - A denominator is the bottom number in a fraction. It shows how many parts a whole has been divided into.

  • Numerator - A numerator is the top number in a fraction. It shows how many parts we have.

Common misconception

When counting, children might think that 1 comes one step after the numerator and denominator are the same. For example, "...five-sevenths, six-sevenths, seven-sevenths, 1".

As the teacher, count in a given unit fraction and ask the children to stand up, wave or respond in some way when you get to the unit fraction that's equivalent to 1 (when the numerator and denominator are the same).


To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Use repeated addition of a unit fraction to form 1, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Make the game fun and competitive if it's helpful for motivation but don't forget its purpose. Keep reiterating how it links to the learning so children don't come away from the lesson having learnt a new game but nothing else.
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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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these definitions describes a denominator?
The number of equal parts that have been shaded or selected.
Correct answer: The number of equal parts the whole has been divided into.
Q2.
Which of these definitions describes a numerator?
Correct answer: The number of equal parts that have been shaded or selected.
The number of equal parts the whole has been divided into.
Q3.
Which of these are unit fractions?
$$ \frac{3}{6} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{1}{8} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{1}{6} $$
$$ \frac{2}{9} $$
Q4.
Which of these are non-unit fractions?
Correct answer: $$ \frac{3}{5} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{2}{7} $$
$$ \frac{1}{4} $$
$$ \frac{1}{12} $$
Q5.
What unit fraction is represented here by the shaded part?
An image in a quiz
$$ \frac{3}{4} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{1}{4} $$
$$ \frac{1}{3} $$
$$ \frac{1}{5} $$
Q6.
What non-unit fraction is represented by the shaded parts here?
An image in a quiz
$$ \frac{3}{4} $$
$$ \frac{1}{4} $$
$$ \frac{2}{3} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{2}{4} $$

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Look at the picture. Which equation below represents this non-unit fraction shown by the shaded green triangles?
An image in a quiz
$$ \frac{1}{3} $$ + $$ \frac{1}{3} $$ + $$ \frac{1}{3} $$ = $$ \frac{3}{3} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{3}{6} $$ = $$ \frac{1}{6} $$ + $$ \frac{1}{6} $$ + $$ \frac{1}{6} $$
$$ \frac{2}{6} $$ = $$ \frac{3}{6} $$ + $$ \frac{3}{6} $$
Q2.
How would this whole be represented using fraction notation?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: $$ \frac{6}{6} $$
$$ \frac{5}{5} $$
$$ \frac{4}{4} $$
Q3.
How can this whole be represented using fraction notation?
An image in a quiz
$$ \frac{1}{4} $$
$$ \frac{2}{4} $$
$$ \frac{3}{4} $$
Correct answer: $$ \frac{4}{4} $$
Q4.
True or false? When the numerator and denominator are the same, the fraction is equivalent to 1
Correct answer: True
False
Q5.
Select all the possible correct ends to this statement: When the denominator and numerator are the same value, __________.
Correct answer: the fraction is equivalent to one whole.
Correct answer: the fraction is equivalent to 1
the fraction is equivalent to any non-unit fraction.
Q6.
Tick the statements that are true about the fraction $$ \frac{5}{5} $$
Correct answer: This fraction is equivalent to one whole.
This fraction is less than 1
Correct answer: This fraction is equivalent to $$ \frac{4}{4} $$
This fraction is equivalent to five one-fifths