• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.181-197
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• 2023

The importance of reasoning processes based on fractional concepts and number senses, rather than a formalized procedural method using common denominators, has been noted in a number of studies in relation to compare the magnitudes of unlike fractions. In this study, a unlike fraction magnitudes comparison test was conducted on fourth-grade elementary school students who did not learn equivalent fractions and common denominators to analyze the reasoning perspectives of the correct and wrong answers for each of the eight problem types. As a result of the analysis, even students before learning equivalent fractions and reduction to common denominators were able to compare the unlike fractions through reasoning based on fractional sense. The perspective chosen by the most students for the comparison of the magnitudes of unlike fractions is the 'part-whole perspective', which shows that reasoning when comparing the magnitudes of fractions depends heavily on the concept of fractions itself. In addition, it was found that students who lack a conceptual understanding of fractions led to difficulties in having quantitative sense of fraction, making it difficult to compare and infer the magnitudes of unlike fractions. Based on the results of the study, some didactical implications were derived for reasoning guidance based on the concept of fractions and the sense of numbers without reduction to common denominators when comparing the magnitudes of unlike fraction.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.537-555
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• 2017

This paper compared and contrasted Korean and Singaporean textbooks in order to explore the direction and possibility of teaching the big ideas related to the addition and subtraction of fractions with different denominators proposed by Lee & Pang (2016a). Firstly, we examined the teaching sequences related to the addition of fractions with different denominators in a series of elementary mathematics textbooks of Korea and Singapore. We then analyzed what types of representations are used and how the representations are presented for the big ideas related to the addition of fractions with different denominators. The results of the analysis showed that the contents related to fraction addition are addressed more gradually and systematically in Singaporean textbooks compared to Korean counterparts. The graphical representations appeared in the Singaporean textbooks provide specific implications for teaching the big ideas of the addition of fractions with different denominators. Based on such implications, we expect that the big ideas related to the addition of fractions with different denominators will be addressed explicitly and systematically in Korean textbooks.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.663-682
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• 2016

This study conducted an analysis of strategies that the 3rd to 6th grade elementary students used when they were solving problems of comparing the size of the fractions with like and unlike denominators, and unit fractions. Although there were slight differences in the students' use of strategies according to the problem types, students were found to use the 'part-whole strategy', 'transforming strategy', and 'between fractions strategy' frequently. But 'pieces strategy', 'unit fraction strategy', 'within fraction strategy', and 'equivalent fraction strategy' were not used frequently. In regard to the strategy use that is appropriate to the problem condition, it was found that students needed to use the 'unit fraction strategy', and the 'within fraction strategy', whereas there were many errors in their use of the 'between fractions strategy'. Based on the results, the study attempted to provide pedagogical implications in teaching and learning for comparing the size of the fractions.