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Stretch your students’ number sense skills with this fraction challenge:

 

Challenges

1. Place four different digits (from 2-9) and one operation (+, –, •, or ÷) in the boxes to create an expression with the greatest possible value.
2. Place four different digits (from 2-9) and one operation (+, –, •, or ÷) in the boxes to create an expression with the least possible value.
3. Place four different digits (from 2-9) and one operation (+, –, •, or ÷) in the boxes to create an expression with a value as close to zero possible value.

Lesson Notes

Display the image with a projector, or give students a handout with several blank copies of the template.

To help students think more flexibly, encourage them to create and use paper number tiles (2-9) as they explore.

When students think they’ve found the answer to a challenge, ask them about the process that led to their solution, as well as their rationale for why they think they have the “winner.” When they’re ready, invite them to tackle the next challenge (or to create their own remix of the task).

The digits 0 and 1 are excluded to increase the level of difficulty for some of the challenges. Add them back in, or further reduce the pool of digits, to adjust the level of difficulty for your students.

Extensions

1. Use six different digits (from 1-9) and two different operations (from +, –, •, ÷) to create an expression (involving three fractions) with the greatest (or least) possible value.
2. Use eight different digits (from 1-9) and three different operations (from +, –, •, ÷) to create an expression (involving four fractions) with the greatest (or least) possible value.
3. Use ten different digits (from 0-9) and four different operations (+, –, •, and ÷) to create an expression (involving five fractions) with the greatest (or least) possible value.

Resources

• Image
• Handout
• All

Standards

• CCSS 7.NS.A
  Apply and extend previous understandings of operations with fractions.

More Lessons

Looking for more lessons? Click here.