Complete Products Equal to 1
Focus: Understanding Reciprocals. Use the worked example and teaching sequence below to explain the reasoning before independent practice.
Use New Numbers to make another set. Choose Worksheet or Answer Key, then use the worksheet’s Print button.
Teaching Notes
Focus: Understanding Reciprocals. Use the worked example and teaching sequence below to explain the reasoning before independent practice.
Before You Begin
- Multiply fractions.
Teaching Steps for Parents and Teachers
- For a nonzero fraction, interchange numerator and denominator.
- Write a nonzero whole number over 1 before reversing.
- Multiply the pair to check that the product is 1.
- For a blank, identify the missing quantity. Substitute the completed value back into the original statement to check it.
Worked Examples
Find the reciprocal of 3/5.
- Interchange 3 and 5 to get 5/3.
- (3/5) × (5/3) = 15/15 = 1.
Answer: 5/3
Common Mistakes and How to Help
Zero has no reciprocal.
Does multiplying the original number by its reciprocal give 1?
Questions to Check Understanding
- Does multiplying the original number by its reciprocal give 1?
- Which step explains your answer?
- Can you apply the same reasoning when the numbers change?
Practice Advice
Work through the example together. Ask the learner to explain the first two problems, then try three independently. Review the first incorrect step before assigning more practice.
Next Practice
- Use New Numbers to practice the same skill with different values.
- If the learner needs help, return to the example and model each step before trying again.