Handout 4.2c:

Solving a Fair Share Problem

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Fair shares is a type of problem that supports the ability of students to construct some of the foundational ideas in fractions.The purpose of introducing fair shares problems is to support students in building their fraction sense. Through exploration, finding patterns and relationships, and constructing math generalizations students become flexible thinkers with fractions.

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Take a few minutes to solve the problem for yourself. Explain and prove your answers. Then, anticipate all of the possible strategies and models students may use.

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Uma’s Brownie Problem:

Uma has 5 brownies (all the same size) and wants to share them with 8 people. How much brownie will each person get?

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• Before you find the exact amount, estimate.
• Will each person get more or less than 1 whole brownie? How do you know?

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Math | Module 4.2 (Gr 4)

Handout 4.2d:

Bridge to Practice - Fair Shares Contexts

For each situation considering the following questions:

1. Will each child get more or less than 1 brownie? How do you know?
2. How much will each student get? How do you know?

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Fair Shares Situations:

• 2 students sharing 1 brownie
• 4 students are sharing 1 brownie
• 4 students sharing 2 brownies
• 4 students sharing 3 brownies
• 6 students sharing 3 brownies
• 8 students sharing 4 brownies
• 3 students sharing 2 brownies
• 10 students sharing 9 brownies

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Math | Module 4.2 (Gr 4)