Fraction Four

What is Fraction Four?

This activity allows the user to practice simplifying, converting, multiplying decimals, percentages and fractions.

This activity is similar to Connect Four, and is designed for two players. The goal is to have four pieces of the same color connected either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. One player uses red pieces, while the other player uses black pieces. To earn a piece, you need to answer a fraction-related question.

Remember the numerator is the number on the top of the fraction and the denominator is the number on the bottom. To simplify fractions, you must factor the numerator and denominator completely. Then you cross out the numbers that are in both the numerator and the denominator. If all of the factors are canceled in the numerator, then replace it with 1 (which is a factor of any number). Do the same for the denominator. Here is an example:

To convert fractions to decimals, just divide the numerator by the denominator. To multiply fractions you just multiply the numerator of the first fraction by the numerator of the second fraction, then divide this result by the denominator of the first fraction multiplied by the denominator of the second. Here is an example:

How Do I Use This Activity?

This activity allows the user to practice simplifying, converting, multiplying decimals, percentages and fractions.

In this applet, questions are categorized by a combination of level (which determines the difficulty) and by types of problems listed. For more information on how questions are generated and what each level and problem type means, see Question Types for Fraction Quiz and Fraction Four.

Controls and Output

  • This activity is similar to Connect Four, and is designed for two players. The goal is to have four pieces of the same color connected either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. One player uses red pieces, while the other player uses black pieces.
  • Before you start the game, you can set several options. You can choose how much time each player will have to answer the questions. You can choose the problem difficulty (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3). You can also select the types of fraction problems you want to see. Once you have all the settings as you want them, click the Start Game button.
  • After clicking the Start Game button, a new screen appears to play the game. Towards the left of the screen is a table that lists the types of questions selected along with the difficulty level.
  • To earn a piece, you need to answer a fraction-related question. Enter your answer into the answer text box:
  • Note that within the input field there is a pattern (#### or #/#) which indicates whether your answer should be a decimal or a fraction. If your answer is a decimal, it must be accurate to within .001. (For instance, if the correct answer is one-third as a decimal then .33 will not be accepted but .333 will).
  • The timer on the right-hand side of the board shows how much time you have left to answer. Once the timer turns all gray, the time is up. If you chose "No Time Limit," the timer will simply be gray, and it will not count down.
  • After you have entered your answer, you need to click on the Answer button to find out if you are correct.
  • If a player answers a question correctly, the player will be able to place one of their pieces on the board. To place a piece, simply click on the column that you want to drop the piece into. The piece will fall into the lowest available slot in the column. If a player answers incorrectly or if time runs out, the other player will have a chance to answer. If neither player is correct the answer appears in a pop-up window.
  • If a player -- player Red for instance -- answers incorrectly, the other player -- Player Black -- will be asked to answer the question. If Black also answers incorrectly, the answer will be displayed in a pop-up window and the game will continue with a new question for Black. Note that whether or not player Black answers correctly, it will be Black's turn again, because Black just attempted Red's question.
  • If you want to restart the game or change options selected on the beginning screen, you can do so by clicking on the New Game button:
  • To change the font size of the question displayed you can, at any time during game play, select one of the three radio buttons on the left side of the screen:
  • This activity will automatically record how successful you are at answering the questions. To view the score, press the Show Score button at the bottom of the activity and a pop-up window will appear with the scoreboard. To close this pop-up window press the Close button or click back on the main window.
  • To pause the scoring, press the Active button at the bottom of the screen and it will change to a Paused button. To resume scoring, press the Paused button.
  • To reset the scoreboard, open the scoreboard using the Show Score button and then press the Reset button.

Description

This applet allows the students to learn to multiply, add, simplify and convert fractions, decimals and percents by playing a game. This activity would work well in same ability groups of two for about twenty minutes if you use the exploration questions and ten to fifteen minutes otherwise.

Place in Mathematics Curriculum

This activity can be used to:

  • convert fraction, decimals, and percents
  • simplify fractions
  • develop number sense

Standards Addressed

Grade 3

  • Numeration

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of simple fractions with denominators 2, 3, 4, or 10.

Grade 4

  • Numeration

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of fractions with denominators 2 through 12.

Grade 5

  • Numeration

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of positive fractions with denominators 1 through 12 and 100 with proper and mixed numbers and benchmark percents (10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%).

Grade 6

  • Numeration

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of fractions (proper or mixed numbers), decimals, percents (whole number), or integers.
    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of fractions, mixed numbers, or percents.

Grade 7

  • Numeration

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of rational numbers (fractions, decimals, percents, or integers).
    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of positive fractions, decimals, or percents.

Grade 8

  • Numeration

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of real numbers.
    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of rational numbers (fractions, decimals, or percents including integers).

Grade 9

  • Functions and Relationships

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of functions, patterns, or sequences including those represented in real-world situations.
    • The student demonstrates algebraic thinking.

  • Numeration

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of real numbers.

Grade 10

  • Functions and Relationships

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of functions, patterns, or sequences including those represented in real-world situations.
    • The student demonstrates algebraic thinking.

  • Numeration

    • The student demonstrates conceptual understanding of real numbers.

Third Grade

  • Number and Operations-Fractions

    • Develop understanding of fractions as numbers.

Fourth Grade

  • Number and Operations-Fractions

    • Extend understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering.
    • Build fractions from unit fractions by applying and extending previous understandings of operations on whole numbers.

Fifth Grade

  • Number and Operations-Fractions

    • Use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions.
    • Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions.

Sixth Grade

  • The Number System

    • Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions.

Algebra

  • Arithmetic with Polynomials and Rational Expressions

    • Perform arithmetic operations on polynomials
    • Rewrite rational expressions

  • Reasoning with Equations and Inequalities

    • Understand solving equations as a process of reasoning and explain the reasoning
    • Solve equations and inequalities in one variable

Grades 6-8

  • Numbers and Operations

    • Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates
    • Understand meanings of operations and how they relate to one another

Grade 4

  • Number and Operations, Measurement, Geometry, Data Analysis and Probability, Algebra

    • COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will read, write, model, and compute with non-negative rational numbers.

Grade 5

  • Number and Operations, Measurement, Geometry, Data Analysis and Probability, Algebra

    • COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will understand and compute with non-negative rational numbers.
    • COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will demonstrate an understanding of patterns, relationships, and elementary algebraic representation.

Grade 6

  • Number and Operations, Measurement, Geometry, Data Analysis and Probability, Algebra

    • COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will understand and compute with rational numbers.
    • COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will demonstrate an understanding of simple algebraic expressions.

Grade 7

  • Number and Operations, Measurement, Geometry, Data Analysis and Probability, Algebra

    • COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will understand and compute with rational numbers.
    • COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will demonstrate an understanding of linear relations and fundamental algebraic concepts.

Technical Mathematics I

  • Number and Operations

    • Competency Goal 1: The learner will apply various strategies to solve problems.

Integrated Mathematics

  • Number and Operations

    • Competency Goal 1: The learner will perform operations with numbers and expressions to solve problems.

6th Grade

  • Numbers and Operations

    • The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of the concepts of whole-number percentages, integers, and ratio and rate; the addition and subtraction of fractions; accurate, efficient, and generalizable methods of multiplying and dividing fractions and decimals; and the use of exponential notation to represent whole numbers.

Grade 5

  • Number, Operation, and Quantitative Reasoning

    • 2. The student uses fractions in problem-solving situations.

Algebra I

  • Foundation for Functions

    • 2. The student uses the properties and attributes of functions.

  • Linear Functions

    • 6. The student understands the meaning of the slope and intercepts of the graphs of linear functions and zeros of linear functions and interprets and describes the effects of changes in parameters of linear functions in real-world and mathematical situations.

Be Prepared to

  • explain the rules of Fraction Four (i.e. the rules for Connect Four)
  • reassign partners! It will not be wise to keep a student in a loosing situation. Everyone should be able to win. This situation could cause classroom disturbances, negative social consequences, and negative attitudes towards math.
  • supervise the weaker students. They may need help remembering how to do the calculations.