Tuesday 10 January 2012

Math Fractions Made Easy

Math Fractions Made Easy

Fractions can be one of the most difficult parts of math, for kids as well as adults. This is unfortunate because fractions are particularly useful in everyday applications.



The Basics

A fraction is a way to represent parts of a whole. The bottom number of the fraction (called the denominator) tells you how many parts the whole has been divided into. The top number (the numerator) tells you how many of those parts you have.



Manipulating, Adding and Subtracting



If you multiply or divide the top and bottom numbers by the same thing, the amount you have doesn't change. Just like two quarters is the same as one half of a dollar, all fractions can be expressed in more than one way



When a object or set can be divided into 2 parts of equal value, we say that each part equals a half (1/2 )


Fractions may be identified with two term ratios, and vice-versa as well, sometimes.



While we may call a fraction, a ratio or a rational number, ratios are different. Triple term ratios exist, but triple term fractions do no exist. Three and more -term ratios cannot be identified with fractions.


(Ratios cannot be added, subtracted or compared, but like fractions, the terms in ratios can be raised or lowered).

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