KU122 Unit 2 Seminar Fraction Notation KU Introduction to Math Skills and Strategies Seminars: Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET Instructor: Tammy Mata Office Hours: By appointment AIM: tammymataku The seminar will begin at the top of the hour. Audio will be available when the seminar begins.

Discussion Responses Incomplete Discussion Responses Do Not Enhance or Contribute to the Topic. Example 1: Thank you so much for explain it so well of how you got your answers to that problem. I would have never though to explain it in that ways was very good. Can you come over to my house and help me! Lol. This example says two things, neither which enhance the topic: Good job and thanks. Where is some information on math that pertains to this problem’s topic? Also, make sure that all postings contain basic good writing. An incomplete response is not funny so LOL might be inappropriate. Example 2: That [answer] is correct. What is the word name to the following: 55,332,346,033? This example remarks that the assignment posting is correct and then poses another similar problems. However, the responder puts the burden of work, which is doing the math, all on the classmate. Make sure that you do your own work, put forth your own effort, even in the responses, because classmates shouldn’t have to carry someone else’s responsibility.

Discussion Responses, con’t. Example 3: Good job! I kept thinking on ways to do this problem differently and came up with another way. This may not be the best but could work for visual people. I can actually draw out the problem in a rectangle with 216 holes and 12 holes in each row. You way is much quicker but I just wanted to show another solution. Drawing out a rectangle with holes in rows might provide a good visual, but is it really using math? It is actually providing a diagram (which is a step when solving application problems). Consider this: the assignment posting to which this was a response has incorrect math work—the division is wrong. Would it be better to indicate an error within the problem and fix it? Of course! Make sure that you check the work performed in the posting before you say “good job!” Saying “good job” to incorrect work shows that a hard look was not given to the problem. Always check its math. General Advice for Responses: Put forth the energy to provide a thorough response that is on the topic. Suggestions: Show an alternate method for doing the same problem. Identify an error in the problem and show how to correct it. Work through a similar problem. Answer or ask a valid and specific question about the problem that illustrates critical thinking (“Will this help me?” is not a valid and specific question that relates to the math). Do the math work. Talk about and show math in the responses. Check the math work in the posting to which you are responding. READ the chapter/section in the textbook assigned for the posting so you will know what the math is suppose to be—always read the chapter/section for the assigned problem to your last name and to the last names to whom you are responding.

FRACTION NOTATION 5/7 = top number, numerator; bottom number denominator Fraction notations indicate equal parts of whole numbers 2.1 – What part is shaded? See page 103, examples 2 and – The number 1 in fraction notation is n/n. Examples: 12/12 = 1 or 36/36 = – The number 0 in fraction notation is 0/n. Examples: 0/12 = 0 or 0/36 = – Any whole number in fraction notation is n/1 = n. Examples: 12/1 = 12 or 36/1 = 36. If you see a whole number in a problem that uses fraction notation, convert the whole number to a fraction by placing it as the numerator and 1 as the denominator. 2.1 – Simplifying fraction notation. The smallest numerator and denominator for which a fraction can be reduced: 5/10 is simplified to ½. See pages 108 to 110.

Fraction Notation 2.2 – Multiplying and Simplifying. We multiply fractions straight across: numerator are multiplied with numerators; denominators are multiplied with denominators. See pages 114 to 115 for factoring to simplify before solving. 2.2 – Reciprocals. The reciprocal of a fraction is its inverse fraction: ¾ and 4/3. See page – Division. We divide fractions by changing the division to multiplication. Multiply the dividend by the reciprocal of the divisor. See page 116—pay close attention to blue box at bottom of page. See pages 117 to 118 for examples. 2.3 – Adding and subtracting fractions. If denominators are the same, add or subtract only the numerators; if denominators are different, the Least Common Multiple (LCM from 1.9) for the denominators must be found. The least common multiple for denominators is labeled the “Least Common Denominator.” The dividend and/or the divisor must be revised to be equivalents with the LCD. See pages 122 through 126.

Fraction Notation 2.4 – Mixed numerals. This is a whole number with a fraction, such as 2 3/8 or 12 1/3. When adding or subtracting with mixed numbers, the mixed numbers may or may not need to be converted to fraction notation. See examples on pages 133 to 134. When multiplying or dividing with mixed numbers, the mixed number must be converted to fraction notation. See pages 134 to 136. REMEMBER to convert the answers to a mixed numeral, if appropriate. 2.5 – Applications and problem solving (fraction notation in word problems). Five steps for problem solving: 1. Familiarize yourself with the problem. a. Carefully read to understand what you are being asked to find. b. Draw a diagram or identify a formula that applies to the situation. c. Assignment a letter or variable to the unknown. 2. Translate the problem to an equation using a variable (such as x). 3. Solve the equation. 4. Check the answer. 5. State the answer to the problem using the appropriate words and units.

Fraction Notation 2.5 – The 12 examples in this section provide a wealth of information on how to read application problems, translate them into equations, and then solve them. Please review all of these problems carefully. Pay close attention to Example 3 on page 142 because there is a similar problem on this unit’s MML Quiz.

Fraction Notation Quiz Tips Do NOT include the math work within the answer. Write only the answer in numbers within the provided box for each item—measurements are already provided. Simplify all fractions. Use the slash symbol / to indicate the division between the numerator and denominator (the quiz will then translate this automatically to fraction notation). If the problem uses mixed numerals, remember to write the answer as a mixed numeral, such as 2 3/4. If the problem requests an answer as an “integer” or “fraction,” an integer is the same as a whole number, such as 3 or 16 or 39.

Fraction Notation Practice Problems for Seminar: 2.1, Page 103, See Example 2, Practice Margin 6 and , Page 107, See Example D, Practice Margin , Page 109, See Examples, Practice Margin 43 and , Page 115, See Examples, Practice Margin 1, 3, 5, and 7 2.2, Page 117, See Examples, Practice Margin 9 and , Page 122, See Examples 4 and 5, Practice Margin 6 and 7 2.3, Page 125, See Examples 12 and 13, Practice Margin , Page 132, See Example 10, Practice Margin , Page 142, See Example 3, Practice Margin 3