Lesson 13
Benchmark Percentages
Lesson Narrative
The goal of this lesson is to help students understand the connection between benchmark percentages and common fractions (MP7). In these materials, we have identified 10%, 25%, 50%, and 75% as primary benchmark percentages and multiples of 10% as secondary benchmark percentages.
It is common to say that \(25\% = \frac14\) or \(10\% = \frac{1}{10}\). In these materials we avoid this usage and say rather that 25% of a quantity is \(\frac14\) of that quantity, or that 10% of a quantity is \(\frac{1}{10}\) of that quantity.
This lesson builds on understanding of equivalent fractions, multiplying fractions, and dividing by unit fractions from grades 4 and 5.
Learning Goals
Teacher Facing
- Explain (orally and in writing) how to solve problems involving the percentages 10%, 25%, 50%, and 75% by reasoning about the fractions $\frac{1}{10}$, $\frac14$, $\frac12$, and $\frac34$.
- Generalize (orally) processes for calculating 10%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of a quantity.
Student Facing
Let’s contrast percentages and fractions.
Learning Targets
Student Facing
- When I read or hear that something is 10%, 25%, 50%, or 75% of an amount, I know what fraction of that amount they are referring to.
CCSS Standards
Print Formatted Materials
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