Learn this concept that can help score AL1 in Math PSLE (Equal Fraction Concept)

Problem sum fractions usually make students freeze and get confused. The moment they see fractions mixed with word problems, panic sets in. But did you know there are different types of fraction problem sums? One of them is called the Equal Fractions Concept – and once you learn to spot it, you'll have a easier way to solve it.

I'll walk you through exactly how to identify equal fraction problems and solve them using a simple 4-step method. Whether you're a parent helping your child with homework, a student tackling Primary 5-6 math, or a tutor looking for clear explanations, this guide is for you.

What Are Equal Fraction Concept Problems?

Equal fraction concept problems occur when two different fractions of different quantities are equal to each other.

For example:

• 1/5 of Bread A equals 2/3 of Bread B
• 2/3 of chicken pies given away equals 3/5 of blueberry pies given away

Why They're Tricky

These problems are confusing because they involve:

• Multiple items (like Bread A and Bread B)
• Different fractions for each item
• Hidden relationships between the quantities

Students often don't know where to start or how to connect the information given.

How to Spot Equal Fraction Problems

Look for these key features:

Keywords: "equal", "same", "as much as"

Two different items: The problem mentions at least two different things (types of bread, types of pies, different people's amounts, etc.)

Fractions for both items: Each item has a fraction associated with it, and these fractions are said to be equal in some way

Once you spot these signs, you know you're dealing with an equal fraction problem – and you can use our 4-step method!

The 4-Step Method to Solve Any Equal Fraction Problem

Here's the systematic approach that works every time:

Step 1: Identify the equal fractions Figure out which fraction of Item A equals which fraction of Item B.

Step 2: Make the numerators the same Find the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) of the numerators and multiply both fractions so they have the same numerator.

Step 3: Convert to units Translate the fractions into unit values. This helps you see the relationship clearly.

Step 4: Solve using given information Use the concrete numbers provided in the question to calculate the answer.

Let's see this method in action with two examples!

Example 1: The Bread Problem

Question

1/5 of the flour used for Bread A is equal to 2/3 of the flour used for Bread B. Bread A used 120 g of flour. How much flour was used for Bread B?

Spotting the Pattern

This is an equal fraction problem because:

• ✅ Keyword "equal" is present
• ✅ Two different items: Bread A and Bread B
• ✅ Fractions given for both: 1/5 and 2/3

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Identify the equal fractions

The question tells us:

• 1/5 of Bread A = 2/3 of Bread B

This is our starting point!

Step 2: Make the numerators the same

Currently:

• Bread A has numerator: 1
• Bread B has numerator: 2

What's the Lowest Common Multiple between 1 and 2? It's 2!

Now we multiply the first fraction to get matching numerators:

• 1/5 of Bread A = 1×2 / 5×2 = 2/10 of Bread A
• 2/3 of Bread B stays as 2/3 of Bread B

So now we have: 2/10 of Bread A = 2/3 of Bread B

Step 3: Convert to units

Now we can assign units:

For Bread A:

• Used = 2 units
• Total = 10 units

For Bread B:

• Used = 2 units
• Total = 3 units

Notice that the "used" amount is the same (2 units) for both breads – that's because we made the numerators equal!

Step 4: Solve

We know that Bread A used 120g of flour.

From our units:

• 2 units → 120g
• 1 unit → 120 ÷ 2 = 60g

The question asks for Bread B's total flour:

• Bread B total = 3 units
• 3 units → 3 × 60 = 180g

Answer: 180g of flour was used for Bread B

Example 2: Chicken and Blueberry

Question

Jinrong had a total of 304 chicken pies and blueberry pies at first. After giving away an equal number of each type of pie, she had 1/3 of the chicken pies and 2/5 of the blueberry pies left. How many blueberry pies were left?

Spotting the Pattern

This is still an equal fraction problem because:

• ✅ Keyword "equal" is present (equal number given away)
• ✅ Two different items: chicken pies and blueberry pies
• ✅ Fractions involved: 1/3 and 2/5

Why This Is Harder

The equal fractions aren't directly given – we need to calculate what was given away from what was left.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Identify the equal fractions

The question states: "giving away an equal number of each type of pie"

This means:

• Chicken pies gave away = Blueberry pies gave away

But we're told what was left, not what was given away! So we need to calculate:

For Chicken Pies:

• Left = 1/3
• Gave away = 1 - 1/3 = 2/3

For Blueberry Pies:

• Left = 2/5
• Gave away = 1 - 2/5 = 3/5

Now we have our equal fractions: 2/3 of Chicken pies gave away = 3/5 of Blueberry pies gave away

Step 2: Make the numerators the same

Currently:

• Chicken pies numerator: 2
• Blueberry pies numerator: 3

What's the LCM of 2 and 3? It's 6!

Multiply to get matching numerators:

• 2/3 of Chicken pies = 2×3 / 3×3 = 6/9 of Chicken pies
• 3/5 of Blueberry pies = 3×2 / 5×2 = 6/10 of Blueberry pies

So: 6/9 Chicken pies gave away = 6/10 Blueberry pies gave away

Step 3: Convert to units

For Chicken Pies:

• Gave away = 6 units
• Total = 9 units

For Blueberry Pies:

• Gave away = 6 units
• Total = 10 units

Step 4: Solve

The question tells us the total at first was 304 pies.

From our units:

• Chicken pies total + Blueberry pies total = 9 + 10 = 19 units
• 19 units → 304 pies
• 1 unit → 304 ÷ 19 = 16 pies

The question asks: How many blueberry pies were left?

We know:

• Blueberry pies gave away = 6 units
• Blueberry pies total = 10 units
• Therefore, Blueberry pies left = 10 - 6 = 4 units

Final calculation:

• 4 units → 4 × 16 = 64 pies

Answer: 64 blueberry pies were left

Conclusion

Equal fraction concept problems don't have to be scary! With the 4-step method – identify, make numerators the same, convert to units, and solve – you have a reliable system to tackle these questions every time.

The key is practice. The more you work through these problems, the faster you'll recognize the pattern and apply the method. What once seemed confusing will become a matter of pattern recognition.

Remember:

• ✅ Look for the keywords: "equal", "same"
• ✅ Always make numerators the same (not denominators!)
• ✅ Keep track of your units carefully
• ✅ Double-check which fractions represent "left" vs "used/gave away"

Happy problem-solving! 🎯