Why is it important to line up the fraction strips on the left.
Lining up fraction strips on the left side is important because it helps us visually represent and compare fractions accurately. When fractions are aligned on the left side, it allows us to easily compare their lengths and see the relative sizes of the fractions.
To understand why this is important, let's consider an example. Imagine you have two fraction strips - one representing 1/3 and another representing 1/4. If we place the fraction strips side by side, with their starting points aligned on the left side, we can easily see that the 1/3 strip is longer than the 1/4 strip. This arrangement makes it visually clear that 1/3 is larger than 1/4.
However, if we were to shift the starting points of the fraction strips, it would be harder to compare their lengths accurately. For instance, if we aligned the starting points of 1/3 and 1/4 in the middle of the strips, it would give a misleading impression that the two fractions are the same length. This misalignment would create confusion and hinder our ability to compare and understand fractions correctly.
Therefore, by lining up fraction strips on the left side, we can visually grasp the relative sizes and relationships between fractions more easily, which is crucial for comprehending and working with fractions accurately.