The note
How schools teach it now
Schools use a bar model: draw a bar for the whole, split it into equal parts (the denominator), find one part by dividing, then multiply by the numerator. 'Divide by the bottom, times by the top.'
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Count out 24 grapes. Ask your child to give you 1/4 (6), then 3/8 (9), then 2/3 (16), sharing into equal groups first. Then reverse it: 'My 6 grapes were a quarter of your pile. How many did you start with?'
Worked example
Two-thirds of a number is 18. What is the number?
- Draw a bar in 3 equal parts. 2 of the parts make 18.
- One part is 18 ÷ 2 = 9.
- The whole bar is 3 parts: 3 × 9 = 27.
Answer: 27
Common mistakes to watch for
- Dividing by the numerator instead of the denominator.
- Working out 2/3 of 18 (12) when the question works backwards.
- Finding one part and forgetting to multiply.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “Let's draw the bar and find one part first.”
- Rather than
- “Just do it in your head.”