Skill: Represent fractions with area models

An area model shows a fraction by dividing a shape into equal parts.

• The denominator tells how many equal parts are in the whole.
• The numerator tells how many parts to shade or show.

Example: Represent $\frac{3}{4}$

1. Draw a rectangle to represent one whole.

2. The denominator is $4$, so divide the rectangle into 4 equal parts.

$$\boxed{\phantom{x}\ \vert \ \phantom{x}\ \vert \ \phantom{x}\ \vert \ \phantom{x}}$$

3. The numerator is $3$, so shade 3 of the 4 parts.

$$\boxed{\blacksquare\ \vert \ \blacksquare\ \vert \ \blacksquare\ \vert \ \square}$$

The shaded area represents $\frac{3}{4}$. There are 4 equal parts altogether, and 3 parts are shaded.