Lesson 6.

4
Name
Common Denominators Number and Operations—
Essential Question How can you write a pair of fractions as fractions Fractions—4.NF.A.1
with a common denominator? MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES
MP2, MP4, MP6
Hands
On
Unlock
Unlock the
the Problem
Problem
Martin has two rectangles that are the same size. One
rectangle is cut into 1_2 -size parts. The other rectangle is cut into
1_ -size parts. He wants to cut the rectangles so they have the
3
same size parts. How can he cut each rectangle?

A common denominator is a common multiple of the

denominators of two or more fractions. Fractions with
common denominators represent wholes cut into the
same number of parts.

Activity Use paper folding and shading.

Materials ■ 2 sheets of paper
Find a common denominator for 1_2 and 1_3 .

STEP 1

Model the rectangle cut into 1_2 -size parts. Fold one
sheet of paper in half. Draw a line on the fold.

STEP 2

Model the rectangle cut into 1_3 -size parts. Fold the
other sheet of paper into thirds. Draw lines on
the folds.

STEP 3
Math MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES 4
Fold each sheet of paper so that both sheets have the same Talk
Use Models How did the
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number of parts. Draw lines on the folds. How many equal

models help you find the
common denominator
parts does each sheet of paper have? __ for 1_2 and 1_3 ?
STEP 4

Draw a picture of your sheets of paper to

show how many parts each rectangle could have.

So, each rectangle could be cut into _ parts.

Chapter 6 345
 Example Write 4_5 and 1_2 as a pair of fractions with
common denominators.
You can use common multiples to find a common denominator. List
multiples of each denominator. A common multiple can be used as a
common denominator.

STEP 1 List multiples of 5 and 2. 5: 5, 10, _, _, _, _

Circle common multiples.
2: _, _, _, _, _, _

STEP 2 Write equivalent fractions. 4 = _____

4 × = ___
__
5 5× 10
Choose a denominator that is
1 = _____
__ 1 × = ___ a common multiple of 5 and 2.
2 2× 10
You can write 4_5 and 1_2 as _ and _ .
Remember that
when you multiply
1. Are 4_5 and 1_2 equivalent? Explain. the denominator by
a factor, you must
multiply the numerator
by the same factor to
write an equivalent
fraction.

2. Describe another way you could tell whether 4_5 and 1_2
are equivalent.

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MATH
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Share and
and Show
hhow
Sh BOARD
B

1. Find a common denominator for 1_3 and __

1
12 by dividing
each whole into the same number of equal parts.
Use the models to help.

common denominator: _ 1 1
3 12

346
 Name

Write the pair of fractions as a pair of fractions with a

common denominator.
2. 1 1
__ and __ 3. 3__ and 5
__
2 4 4 8

4. 1 1
__ and __ 4 and 5__
5. ___
3 4 12 8

Math MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES 6

Talk
Explain how using a
model or listing multiples
On
On Your
Your Own
Own helps you find a common
denominator.
Write the pair of fractions as a pair of fractions with a
common denominator.

6. 1 5
__ and __ 7. 3 4
__ and ___
4 6 5 10

Tell whether the fractions are equivalent. Write = or ≠.

8. 3
__
4 ● 12
__ 9. 3
__
4 ● 68
__ 10. 1
__
2 ● 48
__ 11. 6
__
8 ● 48
__
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

12. DEEPER Jerry has two same-size circles divided into the same
number of equal parts. One circle has 3_4 of the parts shaded, and
the other has 2_3 of the parts shaded. His sister says the least number
of pieces each circle could be divided into is 7. Is his sister correct?
Explain.

Chapter 6 • Lesson 4 347

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13. DEEPER Carrie has a red streamer that is 3_4 yard

long and a blue streamer that is 5_6 yard long. She
says the streamers are the same length. Does this
make sense? Explain.

14. SMARTER
Leah has two same-size rectangles divided into
the same number of equal parts. One rectangle has 1_3 of the parts
shaded, and the other has 2_5 of the parts shaded. What is the least
number of parts into which both rectangles could be divided?

15.
MATHEMATICAL
PRACTICE Julian says a common denominator for 3_4 and 2_5 is 9.
6
What is Julian’s error? Explain.
WRITE Math
Show Your Work

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16. SMARTER Miguel has two same-size rectangles
divided into the same number of equal parts. One rectangle
has 3_4 of the parts shaded, and the other has 5_8 of the parts
shaded.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Into how many parts could each rectangle be divided? Show

your work by sketching the rectangles.

348
 Practice and Homework
Name
Lesson 6.4
Common Denominators
COMMON CORE STANDARD—4.NF.A.1
Extend understanding of fraction equivalence
Write the pair of fractions as a pair of fractions with a and ordering.
common denominator.

1. _2 and 3_ 2. _1 and 2_ 3 and 1_

3. __
3 4 4 3 10 2
Think: Find a common multiple.
3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15
4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20

8 , __
__ 9
12 12

4. _3 and 3_ 5. _2 and 7_ 5
6. _2 and __ 7. _1 and 1_
5 4 4 8 3 12 4 6

Tell whether the fractions are equivalent. Write = or ≠.

8. _1 2
_ 9. _1 3
_ 10. _3 5
_ 6
11. __ 3
_
2 5 2 6 4 6 10 5

Problem
Problem Solving
Solving

12. Adam drew two same size rectangles and 13. Mera painted equal sections of her bedroom
divided them into the same number of equal wall to make a pattern. She painted 2_5 of the
parts. He shaded 1_3 of one rectangle and 1_4 of wall white and 1_2 of the wall lavender. Write
the other rectangle. What is the least number an equivalent fraction for each fraction using
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

of parts into which both rectangles could a common denominator.

be divided?

14. WRITE Math How are a common denominator and a common

multiple alike and different?

Chapter 6 349
Lesson Check (4.NF.A.1)
1. Write a common denominator for 1_ and 5_ . 2. Two fractions have a common denominator
4 6
of 8. What could the two fractions be?

Spiral Review (4.NBT.A.2, 4.NBT.B.5, 4.NBT.B.6, 4.NF.A.1)

3. What number is 100,000 more than seven 4. Aiden baked 8 dozen muffins. How many
hundred two thousand, eighty-three? total muffins did he bake?

5. On a bulletin board, the principal, 6. Judy uses 12 tiles to make a mosaic. Eight of
Ms. Gomez, put 115 photos of the fourth- the tiles are blue. What fraction, in simplest
grade students in her school. She put the form, represents the tiles that are blue?
photos in 5 equal rows. How many photos
did she put in each row? © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

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