Ohio Resource Center
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Lessons
Cartesian Candy Bars 1
Discipline
Mathematics
Grades
4, 5, 6, 7
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Professional Commentary

This lesson compares ratios of the coordinates of various points in a Cartesian grid. The aim is to help students realize that equivalent ratios lie along a straight line. They may also begin to see the correspondence between the size of the ratio and the slope of the line. This lesson is preparation for graphing on a Cartesian coordinate system. The Early Algebra lessons were developed as part of a research project; each lesson in the series includes a synopsis, step-by-step procedures, and downloadable overheads and handouts. The Early Algebra lessons cover many topics in arithmetic in novel ways that lead students into algebraic thinking. (author/sw/js)


Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
Grade 4
Number and Operations—Fractions
Extend understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering.
4.NF.A.1 
Explain why a fraction a/b is equivalent to a fraction (n × a)/(n × b) by using visual fraction models, with attention to how the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size. Use this principle to recognize and generate equivalent fractions.
Grade 5
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Analyze patterns and relationships.
5.OA.B.3 
Generate two numerical patterns using two given rules. Identify apparent relationships between corresponding terms. Form ordered pairs consisting of corresponding terms from the two patterns, and graph the ordered pairs on a coordinate plane. For example, given the rule “Add 3” and the starting number 0, and given the rule “Add 6” and the starting number 0, generate terms in the resulting sequences, and observe that the terms in one sequence are twice the corresponding terms in the other sequence. Explain informally why this is so.
Geometry
Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
5.G.A.1 
Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an ordered pair of numbers, called its coordinates. Understand that the first number indicates how far to travel from the origin in the direction of one axis, and the second number indicates how far to travel in the direction of the second axis, with the convention that the names of the two axes and the coordinates correspond (e.g., x-axis and x-coordinate, y-axis and y-coordinate).
5.G.A.2 
Represent real world and mathematical problems by graphing points in the first quadrant of the coordinate plane, and interpret coordinate values of points in the context of the situation.
Grade 6
Ratios and Proportional Relationships
Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.
6.RP.A.1 
Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities. For example, “The ratio of wings to beaks in the bird house at the zoo was 2:1, because for every 2 wings there was 1 beak.” “For every vote candidate A received, candidate C received nearly three votes.”
6.RP.A.2 
Understand the concept of a unit rate a/b associated with a ratio a:b with b ≠ 0, and use rate language in the context of a ratio relationship. For example, “This recipe has a ratio of 3 cups of flour to 4 cups of sugar, so there is 3/4 cup of flour for each cup of sugar.” “We paid $75 for 15 hamburgers, which is a rate of $5 per hamburger.”
6.RP.A.3 
Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems, e.g., by reasoning about tables of equivalent ratios, tape diagrams, double number line diagrams, or equations.
  1. Make tables of equivalent ratios relating quantities with whole-number measurements, find missing values in the tables, and plot the pairs of values on the coordinate plane. Use tables to compare ratios.
  2. Solve unit rate problems including those involving unit pricing and constant speed. For example, if it took 7 hours to mow 4 lawns, then at that rate, how many lawns could be mowed in 35 hours? At what rate were lawns being mowed?
  3. Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 (e.g., 30% of a quantity means 30/100 times the quantity); solve problems involving finding the whole, given a part and the percent.
  4. Use ratio reasoning to convert measurement units; manipulate and transform units appropriately when multiplying or dividing quantities.
Grade 7
Ratios and Proportional Relationships
Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
7.RP.A.1 
Compute unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, including ratios of lengths, areas and other quantities measured in like or different units. For example, if a person walks 1/2 mile in each 1/4 hour, compute the unit rate as the complex fraction 1/2/1/4 miles per hour, equivalently 2 miles per hour.
7.RP.A.2 
Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities.
  1. Decide whether two quantities are in a proportional relationship, e.g., by testing for equivalent ratios in a table or graphing on a coordinate plane and observing whether the graph is a straight line through the origin.
  2. Identify the constant of proportionality (unit rate) in tables, graphs, equations, diagrams, and verbal descriptions of proportional relationships.
  3. Represent proportional relationships by equations. For example, if total cost t is proportional to the number n of items purchased at a constant price p, the relationship between the total cost and the number of items can be expressed as t = pn.
  4. Explain what a point (x, y) on the graph of a proportional relationship means in terms of the situation, with special attention to the points (0, 0) and (1, r) where r is the unit rate.
Ohio Mathematics Academic Content Standards (2001)
Number, Number Sense and Operations Standard
Benchmarks (3–4)
B.
Recognize and generate equivalent representations for whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 3)
9.
Model, represent and explain division; e.g., sharing equally, repeated subtraction, rectangular arrays and area model. For example: a. Translate contextual situations involving division into conventional mathematical symbols. b. Explain how a remainder may impact an answer in a real-world situation; e.g., 14 cookies being shared by 4 children.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 4)
1.
Identify and generate equivalent forms of fractions and decimals. For example: a. Connect physical, verbal and symbolic representations of fractions, decimals and whole numbers; e.g., 1/2, 5/10, "five tenths," 0.5, shaded rectangles with half, and five tenths. b. Understand and explain that ten tenths is the same as one whole in both fraction and decimal form.
Geometry and Spatial Sense Standard
Benchmarks (3–4)
G.
Find and name locations in coordinate systems.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 3)
3.
Find and name locations on a labeled grid or coordinate system; e.g., a map or graph.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 4)
6.
Specify locations and plot ordered pairs on a coordinate plane, using first quadrant points.
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
Number and Operations Standard
Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems
Expectations (3–5)
recognize and generate equivalent forms of commonly used fractions, decimals, and percents;
Geometry Standard
Specify locations and describe spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and other representational systems
Expectations (3–5)
make and use coordinate systems to specify locations and to describe paths;