What Does Scaling Mean?
Scaling is like resizing something - making it bigger or smaller!
When we scale whole numbers by fractions, we're multiplying them to make the number larger or smaller.
Fractions greater than 1 make numbers bigger, while fractions less than 1 make numbers smaller.
How to Scale Numbers
1️⃣ Choose your whole number (like 12)
2️⃣ Pick a fraction to scale it by (like ½ or ¾)
3️⃣ Multiply them together to get your answer!
Let's Try Some Examples!
Cookie Example
You have 24 cookies. You want to give away ¾ of them. How many cookies will you give away?
24 × 3/4 = ?
Pizza Example
A pizza is cut into 8 slices. You eat ½ of the pizza. How many slices did you eat?
8 × 1/2 = ?
Parent Tips 🌟
- Kitchen Math: Use measuring cups to show how ½ cup + ½ cup = 1 whole cup
- Visual Aids: Cut paper shapes to physically demonstrate scaling (fold a paper into fourths to show ¾)
- Real-world Examples: Point out fractions in recipes, sports statistics, or sharing snacks with friends