Fraction problem with mental math
Someone asked me,
Here are two ways to solve this:
1) These numbers look awkward, but if I changed them to easier ones, for example
"How many times does 2 fit into 834", then we'd all soon realize that we need to use DIVISION.
So the original problem is solved by fraction division:
15 6/8 ÷ 3/4
Are you ready? Remember how to divide fractions?
2) But wait a minute! These numbers aren't so difficult after all... because 6/8 equals 3/4. Let's use this thinking cap of ours - mental math.
3/4 goes into 1 1/2 two times. Doubling that, we find 3/4 goes into 3 four times. And so to 15... fives times that: 3/4 goes into 15 4 × 5 or 20 times!
And, of course 3/4 goes into 6/8 exactly one time.
So all total 3/4 goes into 15 6/8 exactly 21 times. No leftovers. And that was easy!
On another note, Denise in Illinois has made up a mnemonic poem for kids to remember better the "invert and multiply" rule.
How many times does 3/4 fit into 15 6/8?
Here are two ways to solve this:
1) These numbers look awkward, but if I changed them to easier ones, for example
"How many times does 2 fit into 834", then we'd all soon realize that we need to use DIVISION.
So the original problem is solved by fraction division:
Are you ready? Remember how to divide fractions?
2) But wait a minute! These numbers aren't so difficult after all... because 6/8 equals 3/4. Let's use this thinking cap of ours - mental math.
3/4 goes into 1 1/2 two times. Doubling that, we find 3/4 goes into 3 four times. And so to 15... fives times that: 3/4 goes into 15 4 × 5 or 20 times!
And, of course 3/4 goes into 6/8 exactly one time.
So all total 3/4 goes into 15 6/8 exactly 21 times. No leftovers. And that was easy!
On another note, Denise in Illinois has made up a mnemonic poem for kids to remember better the "invert and multiply" rule.
Comments
Example: 1/2 divided by 2/5 Find a common denominator of 10 and the problem becomes 5/10 divided by 4/10. 5 divided by 4 yields 4 1/5 which is the numerator. 10 divided by 10 yields one which is the denominator. That leaves 4 1/5 as the answer, which you will also get by solving with "invert and multiply."
I find this works better because it connects to something the kids already do.