Questions tagged [fractions]
For questions about the teaching of fractions and their interpretations. Fractions are numbers of the form $p/q$, where $p$ and $q \neq 0$ are integers.
52 questions
4 votes
2 answers
342 views
When writing fractions, in what order do you write the top, bottom and line?
When handwriting fractions (for example $\frac43$ or $\frac{x+1}{x-1}$), in what order do you write the top, bottom and line? It seems to vary by country. Based on my observations, it seems that: In ...
- 1,565
0 votes
2 answers
180 views
Pros and Cons of NOT converting percentages to fractions or decimals
This is a question on the role of the concept of percentages. In working with percentages it is traditional to convert any percentages to decimals or fractions before using them further in written or ...
- 1,145
5 votes
2 answers
482 views
Intuitively, what does the $\color{red}{1}$ mean in $\dfrac{a}{b} = \dfrac{\color{red}{1}}{\left(\dfrac ba\right)}$?
For instance, let a be apples and b be berries. Then $\dfrac{a}{b}$ means $\dfrac{\text{apple}}{\text{1 berry}}$, and $b/a$ means $\dfrac{\text{berry}}{\text{1 apple}}$. But what does the red $\color{...
- 189
-1 votes
2 answers
292 views
What are your most recommended resources to teach fractions?
Please share your resources for learning and teaching fractions...sites, videos, worksheets etc. I am looking for online resource similar to this: https://worksheetgenius.com/math/fractions-add/ with ...
- 27
-1 votes
1 answer
53 views
Ratio in Fractional Form [closed]
I have 3 puppies and 2 piglets. Can you that ratio be written in this fractional form 5/2? If yes, how would you describe this ratio as 5/2?
- 7
5 votes
4 answers
2k views
Is there a way to extend the analogy that fractions means "x out of y" to show that fractions are also dividing?
When explaining fractions to my kids, I've used the analogy that $\frac{a}{b}$ means "you want $a$ out of every group of $b$ (of the thing you're finding a fraction of)." E.g. $\frac{3}{4}$ ...
- 415
1 vote
2 answers
428 views
Geometric line: constructing fractions
I am interested in teaching maths visually. in page 36 of Growing ideas of number (by John N Crossley) the following image appears, yet I cannot fully grasp how to interpreted it.
- 145
4 votes
2 answers
426 views
Resources for teaching decimal numbers
I am currently teaching special classes to students whose ages range from 11 to 15 and there is quite a wide spectrum in their levels of maths. The lessons are given in English and we do not have a ...
- 283
13 votes
9 answers
2k views
Is it meaningful to add a number to itself a fractional number of times?
(Migrated from the math stack exchange, where I received an apt-seeming suggestion to pose the question here, at the math-educators stack exchange) I introduce my young kids to basic math concepts in ...
- 415
2 votes
3 answers
617 views
Reduction of fractions
Last night I was fiddling with some equations and admittedly, I made a careless mistake because I was exhausted. However, in doing so, I began to question the process of what I used to understand as &...
- 153
22 votes
14 answers
16k views
Student asked me if it is necessary to simplify fractions at the end of answering a question. I'm not sure how to respond
I was just tutoring someone and we went through some sort of diagnostic test thing, when the following question came up. Question: Here is some information about $50$ people who took the driving test:...
- 1,021
4 votes
6 answers
671 views
Is there an agreed upon difference between how we represent $\frac{a}{b}$ and $a \cdot \frac{1}{b}$?
When teaching addition and multiplication of fractions, I seem to recall some advice on this site that one should first treat the cases $a \cdot \frac{c}{d}$ and $a + \frac{c}{d}$ before moving on to ...
- 1,911
2 votes
3 answers
530 views
Is it possible to understand decimals without understanding fractions?
It is common for students to come unstuck by there inability to manipulate fractions (eg calculating gradients, algebraic fractions, etc) yet these same students can handle decimal numbers competently....
- 1,145
20 votes
9 answers
4k views
What is the rationale for distinguishing between proper and improper fractions?
I cannot recall ever hearing the terms "improper fraction" and "proper fraction" outside of an elementary and middle school setting. At some point in my mathematics education ...
- 1,911
6 votes
1 answer
258 views
At what grade/age levels do students in Florida/USA stop using mixed fractions?
I am teaching at the remedial level in college and I am trying to put together an argument on why we should explain the notations for mixed fractions and the terms proper/improper fractions before we ...
- 301