Dining with Denominators

Hi, everyone! It’s almost time for lunch here at Hero Academy.

Will you help Donte get the food ready before the students come in to eat lunch?

OK, let’s do it!

This is Mrs. Grant. She is making the food for lunch. She wants to cut the sub sandwiches, apples, and pans of brownies so that lunch is ready for the students. There will be sixteen students coming to the first lunch bell.

Let’s help Mrs. Grant by starting with the sub sandwiches.

Mrs. Grant needs to cut the subs so that she has enough sandwiches ready for the students.

Look at the sandwiches. If we cut each sandwich into 2 pieces, that would make the denominator 2.

If we cut each sandwich into three pieces, that would make the denominator 3.

Which one gives the students a bigger piece of sub sandwich?

Mrs. Grant and Donte decide to cut the sandwiches into two pieces. Then the students will get bigger pieces than if the sandwiches were cut into three pieces.

Next, Mrs. Grant needs to cut the apples to have them ready for lunchtime. The students enjoy small slices of apples.

If we cut each of the apples into 2 pieces, that would make the denominator 2.

If we cut them into 4 pieces, that would make the denominator 4.

Which way gives the students smaller apple slices to eat?

Mrs. Grant and Donte decide to cut the apples into 4 pieces. That gives the students smaller pieces of apples, which is what they like.

Mrs. Grant baked one big pan of brownies. She wants to make sure that each student gets a brownie with lunch.

She could cut the pan of brownies into 6 pieces. That would make big pieces to eat, but there would not be enough for all of the students.

Donte knows what to do. With his superhero knowledge of fractions, he helps cut the brownies into 16 pieces.

Dessert is served! This pan of brownies is cut into 16 equal parts. The denominator is 16.

Well –done, everyone!

Lunch was served on time and was delicious, thanks to you!