Math Is Fun Forum

mandy jane

Member

Registered: 2010-09-23

Posts: 1,169

How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi Bob It's Mandy here I am having a proablum with finding the web page you said go to? can you help me out then? send message now or as soon as you can please

Last edited by mandy jane (2010-11-22 03:17:18)

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,621

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi Mandy Jane,

Dear all,

I am just a mother who is trying to help her 6th grader with math homework.

I would like to find a simple and easy way for her to know the value of a fraction.

For example, Which fraction would be closer to the number 1 ( 3/4 or 11/9)

My reply was :

My own prefered way to explain fractions to students at any level I call my chocolate diagram method.  I haven't yet found a fractions problem that couldn't be done this way.  In the ideal mathematical world bars of chocolate would be sold in slabs of different length and width so you could actually make the fractions.  At the end of the lesson you eat the chocolate!

Have a look at my picture below.  You were asking to compare quarters and ninths so I did 4 x 9 = 36 and made my one bar of chocolate that size ( 4 x 9). 

[For a new problem you have to decide afresh what size of bar is needed for that problem.]

For your problem make two more the same (4 x 9).

Then split the first into quarters and shade 3.  That shows 3/4

The second is all shaded to show 9/9.

The third is split into 9 parts and has 2 shaded to show another 2/9.

The second and third taken together show 9/9 plus 2/9 = 11/9.

To decide which fraction is closer to 1, just look at how many squares of chocolate are needed to make the fraction up to one or how many need to be taken off to get down to one.

3/4 is 9 squares too small.

11/9 is 2/9 over which is 8 squares.

So 11/9 is closer by one square which is 1/36 as a fraction.

This method also lets you make equivalent fractions 

eg. 3/4 = 27/36

and to add fractions

eg. 3/4 + 2/9 = 27/36 + 8/36 = 35/36.

Mandy Jane

If you post a fractions question you would like help with,  I'll show you how to do it.

Bob

Last edited by Bob (2010-11-22 06:08:25)

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi mandy jane;

First of all good to see you. As Bob suggests please post your problems. I know that is hard but please do try. Have you seen these:

http://funschool.kaboose.com/formula-fu … ction.html

http://www.visualfractions.com/FindGram … rampy.html

Mr pizza here looks tough.

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/pizza_game/index.html

http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/fob.cgi

Do you remember when I posted these to you! It was on October 7 2010 post #21
http://www.mathisfunforum.com/viewtopic … =14496&p=2

To add the two fractions 1 / 3 + 2 / 5

Multiply the 2 numbers that are in the boxes: 1 times 5 is 5

Hold that 5.

Multiply the 2 numbers that are in the boxes: 3 times 2 is 6

Hold that 6.

Multiply the 2 numbers that are in the boxes: 3 times 5 is 15

Hold that 15.

Now add the 5 and the 6 that you saved.

Now put that over the 15 you have up there.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

mandy jane

Member

Registered: 2010-09-23

Posts: 1,169

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi Boy, Mandy here thought I would let you know it is only 50f in my house and -1f out side my house so very cold over here? What do you think of that then? Thank's for the maths I do rember you sending them to me before ok. Send me a message it will make me fell warmer when I read it ok? Send now or as soon as you can please

John E. Franklin

Member

Registered: 2005-08-29

Posts: 3,588

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi Mandy!  If you have 2 fractions, and you can see one is above 1, and one
is below 1, then if you take the average of them, you will know which one is closer to one.
If the average is above 1, then the little one is closer to 1.
You know how an average of 2 things, you divide by 2, well you can forget that step and
just compare to the number 2 if you want.
Say you have 8/9 and 9/8, and you know that 8/9 is less than one, but you
know that 9/8 is over one.  But which one is closer to one you wonder?
Well 1st off, from experience, I know that a ninth is smaller than an eighth, so 8/9 is closer to one.
But to do it out, here we go:
8/9 + 9/8 = what, over 2 or less than 2 ?
(8 x 8)/(9 x 8) + (9 x 9)/(8 x 9) = what???
64/72 + 81/72 = what??
64 + 81 is 145 so
8/9 + 9/8 = 145/72 and 145/72 is (1 + 144)/72 which is 144/72 + 1/72 which is 2 + 1/72.
So the two fractions we started with added together make over 2, not less than 2.
So that means that the little number or 8/9 is closer to 1 than 9/8 is.
End of complicated work... phew...
Happy winter!

---

igloo myrtilles fourmis

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi mandy;

It is unusually cold here too. Hit 38F, I just shut down and went to bed. If it is not 100, I cannot function correctly.Sorry!

The last time I saw -1F was when I was in NYC. Went down to -3F. Just awful, I had to where 3 coats to go to school.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

mandy jane

Member

Registered: 2010-09-23

Posts: 1,169

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi Bobbym, Mandy here just wondered did you send me the message about fractions under the name John E. Franklin or not? Can you let me know NOW OR AS SOON AS YOU CAN PLEASE as I would like to know where it came from that's all? Hop to hear from you soon please

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi mandy jane;

Nope, John is another member here. A nice guy too. I sent you a message underneath it though!

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

mandy jane

Member

Registered: 2010-09-23

Posts: 1,169

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi Bobbym I not soure when I writ to you who to send it to as I now have three name on here and not sure which one to use there is Bob Bundy as Full Member or BobbyM as Moderator or John E. Franklin as Star Member can you let me know please NOW OR AS SOON AS YOU CAN as it is worrying me which one I should use ok?

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Do not worry, I am bobbym, with a small b please. You do not have to worry who you post to. I will see it.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

mandy jane

Member

Registered: 2010-09-23

Posts: 1,169

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi bobbym, Mandy here. Hope you didn't mined me asking which name I should use? The informaion was very helpful thank's for sending it to me. It will help me a lot. Very cold this morning over here. Had ice on my windows in my house. What do you think of that then? send message back NOW OR AS SOON AS YOU CAN PLEASE

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi mandy jane;

It is warmer here than it was last night. But it is still too cold for me. Do winters over there get that cold all the time?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

mandy jane

Member

Registered: 2010-09-23

Posts: 1,169

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi bobbym no the winters over here are not this cold useery, it is very unlike us to get this cold in November we don't get very cold till about January or February ok. Speak to you later ok bey for now send message if you like? now or when you can

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Okay, see you. Try to keep warm! I have a jacket on.

When you post and someone else answers ( In this case Bob Bundy and John E. Franklin ) I urge you to listen to what they have to say.
When you are trying to learn something new I find it best to get a few different explanations. Everyone views things differently and someone else might explain a concept in a way that is easier for you to understand.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,621

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi Mandy Jane

Some time back you were shown how to do

My diagram may help you to understand how to add fractions.

Do you want to advance to a harder example?

Bob

---

Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

mandy jane

Member

Registered: 2010-09-23

Posts: 1,169

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi bobbym it's mandy here sorry for not writing sooner but i have been doing some e-mails. I heard on our new there has been some haven snow in Amarica is that right or not? send me a message and let me know NOW OR AS SOON AS YOU CAN please. Hope you are ok? it is still very cold over here. Hope to hear from you soon

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: How do I do Fraction Questions

Hi mandy jane;

America is a big place. I have only seen a small part of it and I live here. It takes 5 or 6 days to drive across and 2 or 3 to drive up or down. We generally have all types of weather. I live in the desert so I have not seen snow for a long, long time. The North - Northeast gets snow and lots of it.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.