Common Fractions Formula?!?!

Canucksgurl16 · 2010-10-19 08:57:24

I'm having a really difficult time with common decimals to fractions. I'm doing GED math and cant wrap my head around how they get some of these answers. Maybe someone on here can explain it to me in english!
Ill use expamples so it's easier to understand what I'm talking about.
As of right now I have to change the fraction to a decimal to 2 decimal places then make the remainder a fraction. I get most of that!
What I dont get is this... how does the remainder of .2727272727 turn into .27 & 3/11!?!?!?
like .8888=8/9 and .83333=5/6 how do they come to those conclusions?!?! What formula are they using to get these answers!?!? I can understand math if I have a formula to follow but theres doesnt seem to be one to understand how 27 remaining turns into 3 over 11. Alot of people I know say they just memorized it when they were in high school or whatever grade it is that they learn this. Well, I'm getting a little too old for memorizing things like that and I'd rather understand it. Hope I didnt rant too much, this is just HIGHLY frustrating for a English loving student!!!
Please help.

If someone can share with me how to upload an image on here it may be easier to see what I mean than for me to try to explain it.

Last edited by Canucksgurl16 (2010-10-19 10:08:11)

bobbym · 2010-10-19 09:23:10

Hi Canucksgurl16;

Hope I didnt rant too much, this is just HIGHLY frustrating for a English loving student!!!

Over here I do the ranting.

There is not a formula for everything, sometimes we have something almost as good.
An algorithm or method to get we want. You have heard division I am sure. Let us look at the hard one.

5 / 6 is a fraction yes but you can also say it is 5 divided by 6.

------
6 / 5 6 cannot go into 5, so put down your decimal point and make that 5 a 50

.
------
6 / 5 0 Now six does go into 50, 8 times, so put that on top

. 8
------
6 / 5 0 8 times 6 is 48 so put that underneath and subtract.

. 8
------
6 / 5 0
4 8
---------

. 8
------
6 / 5 0
4 8
---------
2 6 does not go into 2, so add a zero.

. 8 3
------
6 / 5 0
4 8
---------
2 0 6 goes into 20, 3 times , so put that on top.

. 8 3
------
6 / 5 0
4 8
---------
2 0 Now subtract 6 times 3 is 18.

. 8 3
------
6 / 5 0
4 8
---------
2 0 Now subtract 6 times 3 is 18.
1 8
-----------
2 6 does not go into 2 again so add a zero.

. 8 3 3
------
6 / 5 0
4 8
---------
2 0
1 8
-----------
2 0 4 goes into 20, 3 times so put it on top and subtract 6 times 3

. 8 3 3
------
6 / 5 0
4 8
---------
2 0
1 8
-----------
2 0
1 8
--------------
2 6 does not go into 2 ...

See what you have on top so far .833 and you can continue to get as many places as you need. That is all there is to magically changing them into a decimal.

Welcome to the forum!

Canucksgurl16 · 2010-10-19 09:39:08

Hey bobbym,

It's not division I'm confused about, I can do that in my head. What I'm confused about is common fractions. Such as for example: if u have 5 over 6 that answer is .8333333 repeating. What im required to do is only 2 steps after the decimal and turn the remainder into a fraction. How can I turn 33 into 1/3, or .88 into 8/9. I wish I knew how to do the layout your doing so maybe it may make more sense in what I'm asking. Im gonna try to post a picture of the question in the book so everyone can get what im asking more clearly!
I really appreciate this help though

bobbym · 2010-10-19 09:47:07

Hi;

How can I turn 33 into 1/3, or .88 into 8/9.

There is a little problem right there .33 is not 1 / 3
.33 is 33 / 100. 1 / 3 is .3333333333333333... a repeating decimal.

Same for .88. .88 is not 8 / 9 , 8 / 9 is .888888888888888888... a repeating decimal. .88 is 88 / 100.

Canucksgurl16 · 2010-10-19 09:58:17

i dont think you are understand what i am asking im trying my hardest but math is very difficult for me and even harder to explain what i mean...common decimals converted to fraction

.25 -> 1/4 i understand

.5 -> 1/2 makes sense

.2 -> 1/5 makes sense

.4 -> 2/5 i understand

.6 -> 3/5 makes sense

.8 -> 4/5 makes sense

listed below: DOESNT MAKE SENSE

.1111 -> 1/9

.2222 -> 2/9

.3333 -> 3/9

.

.8888 -> 8/9

.3333 -> 1/3

.6666 -> 2/3

.16666 -> 1/6

.83333 -> 5/6

.125 -> 1/8

.375 -> 3/8

.625 -> 5/8

.875 -> 7/8

.0909-> 1/11

.1818 -> 2/11

.2727 -> 3/11

.3636 -> 4/11

.

.9090 -> 10/11

.08333 -> 1/12

.41666 -> 5/12

.58333 -> 7/12

.91666 -> 11/12

some of those make sense to me, some of them dont...

bobbym · 2010-10-19 10:10:14

Hi;

You mean you are starting with the decimal and want to go to the fraction.

Canucksgurl16 · 2010-10-19 10:13:13

Hey,
No, Im starting with a fraction that needs to turn into a decimal that has repeating numbes after the first two numbers after the decimal...so: .833333 the 83 stays .83 but the 333333repeating needs to turn into a fraction. LOL! I wish I could explain it better but I'm really no good at math. I have the pictures posted in a private album on facebook, is there anyway I could put up that link here so you can see what the GED book is asking me to do and what I have solved so far??!!?

bobbym · 2010-10-19 10:18:57

You want to do this?

.8333333 = .83 + .0033333 = .83 + 1 / 300, something like that?

In answer to posting the questions, do you have a scanner?

1) Then just scan them, make them small in byte size, by using BW.

2) Yes, send me to the link. Just copy it and paste.

3) What is the exact title of the book and author maybe I have it.

Canucksgurl16 · 2010-10-19 10:27:49

i dont have a scanner.
this is the link, i hope it works. mailto:?body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Fpid%3D7506038%26l%3D5a6598c8cd%26id%3D602341468&subject=I+hate+MATH%21
the book is Steck-Vaughn "Complete Canadian GED Preparation" pg. 513 Section D
I have a few ppl on FB helping with this and someone said something that did make sense to me. Unsure if I can apply it yet, i'll need to open the colleges workbook and try different questions or get my husband to help me make new questions. He's great at math, just cant explain anything, does it all in his head lol

bobbym · 2010-10-19 10:41:41

Hi;

That link is not working for me at all. And I do not have that particular book. Can you copy a problem exactly as you see it. Word for word?

Canucksgurl16 · 2010-10-19 10:43:39

my husband said he'll post it when he gets home in a hour, cause he knows which keys to use to exact the question or even post the link properly, or the picture. I really do appreciate the help bobbym!

bobbym · 2010-10-19 10:55:26

Hi;

It is okay. I do not mind.

Bob · 2010-10-19 23:54:47

Hi,

To put up an image here's what I do (works for Windows XP):

(i) Get the picture on my screen.
(ii) Press PrtSc to 'take a screen shot'.
(iii) Paste into Paint.
(iv) Put a select box around the bit I want and copy.
(v) Start a new Paint screen and paste the selected bit in.
(vi) Save as a gif.
(vii) In the MathsIsFun screen click 'post reply' not 'quick post' (or you won't get all the features for images).
(vii) In the 'image upload' space choose show 1 upload shots.
(viii) Browse to the jpeg and select it.
(ix) Put in some text and submit.

I can show you how to change a recurring decimal into a fraction. Is that what you're after?

Here's an example (need to vary slightly depending on how many digits repeat).

subtract second expression from the first

note that was 8.3 - 0.8 as the recurring bits all disappear now.

Does that help? If that's what you are after I can show you a more complicated recurring example.

Bob

Last edited by Bob (2010-12-28 02:14:19)

Canucksgurl16 · 2010-10-20 05:18:26

I need to apologize for not getting the pics up last night. My husband had to stay late and I didnt want to bother him with more computer stuff when he got as he spends all day working on computers! I did figure out a way that made sense to me to figure out decimals, remainders and fractions. Again, I really appreciate everyone help!!

bobbym · 2010-10-20 05:31:49

Hi Canucksgurl16;

Nothing beats figuring it out for yourself. Are you sure you are okay now?

Canucksgurl16 · 2010-10-20 05:35:05

im positive but im gonna leave this post just incase i come across the same problem and my solution doesnt work for it! and yeah it does feel great figuring it out on my own

bobbym · 2010-10-20 05:38:05

Hi;

Hope you now like both math and english.

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2010-10-19 08:57:24

Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#2 2010-10-19 09:23:10

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#3 2010-10-19 09:39:08

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#4 2010-10-19 09:47:07

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#5 2010-10-19 09:58:17

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#6 2010-10-19 10:10:14

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#7 2010-10-19 10:13:13

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#8 2010-10-19 10:18:57

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#9 2010-10-19 10:27:49

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#10 2010-10-19 10:41:41

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#11 2010-10-19 10:43:39

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#12 2010-10-19 10:55:26

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#13 2010-10-19 23:54:47

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#14 2010-10-20 05:18:26

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#15 2010-10-20 05:31:49

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#16 2010-10-20 05:35:05

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

#17 2010-10-20 05:38:05

Re: Common Fractions Formula?!?!

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