Fraction Help Please

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scarlett
Posts: 3664
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 10:22 am

Fraction Help Please

Post by scarlett »

Can anyone help me with these fraction questions please? They are for my son's homework who is getting really confused and agitated and so am I!



1/7 + 5/8 ÷ 3/4 =

5/6 x 3/10 - 3/16 =

3/4 ÷ 1/2 + 1/8 =

(4/9 - 1/3 ) x 6/7 =

3/5 x (2/3 + 1/2 ) =

This isn't to give the answers to my son, just so I can understand how to do them and can explain it all a bit better!
hermanmunster
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Location: The Seaside

Re: Fraction Help Please

Post by hermanmunster »

scarlett wrote:Can anyone help me with these fraction questions please? They are for my son's homework who is getting really confused and agitated and so am I!



1/7 + 5/8 ÷ 3/4 =

5/6 x 3/10 - 3/16 =

3/4 ÷ 1/2 + 1/8 =

(4/9 - 1/3 ) x 6/7 =

3/5 x (2/3 + 1/2 ) =

This isn't to give the answers to my son, just so I can understand how to do them and can explain it all a bit better!
I'm not v good at explaining these but I'll have a go at one (bearing in mind you have to do BODMAS)


3/4 ÷ 1/2 + 1/8 =
doing the division first , anything divided by half is doubled so : 6/4 + 1/8 = 12/8+1/8=13/8 = 1 & 5/8
Proud_Dad
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Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 9:55 am

Re: Fraction Help Please

Post by Proud_Dad »

Split each problem into 2 steps using BODMAS to determine the order of the steps. Then use standard rules for multiplying/dividing or adding/subtracting fractions.

So taking the first example

1/7 + 5/8 ÷ 3/4 =

1/7 + (5/8 ÷ 3/4) = (I find using brackets helps clarify BODMAS rules)

1/7 + (5/8 x 4/3) = (to divide by a fraction "turn it upside down and multiply")

1/7 + (20/24) =

1/7 + 5/6 = (simplify 2nd fraction by dividing top and bottom by 4)

6/42 + 35/42 = 41/42 (convert both terms to a common fraction and add)
scarlett
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Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 10:22 am

Re: Fraction Help Please

Post by scarlett »

Thanks for the help , Herman and Proud dad. Shall try to get to grips with it myself before tonight !
parent2013
Posts: 452
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:13 am

Re: Fraction Help Please

Post by parent2013 »

scarlett wrote:Can anyone help me with these fraction questions please? They are for my son's homework who is getting really confused and agitated and so am I!



1/7 + 5/8 ÷ 3/4 =

5/6 x 3/10 - 3/16 =

3/4 ÷ 1/2 + 1/8 =

(4/9 - 1/3 ) x 6/7 =

3/5 x (2/3 + 1/2 ) =

This isn't to give the answers to my son, just so I can understand how to do them and can explain it all a bit better!
Homework?? I would be curious to know who gave this kind of homework. It appears to be someone trying to be merging BODMAS and fractions to make life miserable for 10 year old. I don't think it is from any past papers or standard books available in the market.
Guest55
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Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Fraction Help Please

Post by Guest55 »

I agree; it's a very poor exercise imho.
Proud_Dad
Posts: 500
Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 9:55 am

Re: Fraction Help Please

Post by Proud_Dad »

Guest55 wrote:I agree; it's a very poor exercise imho.
Interested as to why you think these are poor questions Guest55 as I thought they looked like quite good ones.

Isn't an 11 year old supposed to know BODMAS and how to calculate fractions and these questions seem to combine the two topics quite nicely to me?

Or are they just bad questions 11plus wise because the exam wouldn't have something like this?
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Fraction Help Please

Post by Guest55 »

I'm not sure what they are testing; fractions or BIDMAS. They aren't set in any context or problem and the mix of denominators makes me concerned about the level they are aimed at.
scarlett
Posts: 3664
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 10:22 am

Re: Fraction Help Please

Post by scarlett »

Oh, sorry I'm assuming everyone knows how old my children are ! This is homework for my DS who has just gone into year 8 . It's from a maths text book , 8a something ...I'm sure guest 55 will know which one I mean . I think he was getting a bit confused and I just wanted someone to explain so I wasn't confusing him more.
parent2013
Posts: 452
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:13 am

Re: Fraction Help Please

Post by parent2013 »

I suggest that you should not have posted Year 8 maths question in 11+ section or at least clarified that it is from Year 8 book ( I know which one).

Fractions could be confusing if all possible combinations (and logic for solving) are not understood properly in the first place.
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