Fractions for Math Teachers

Nice Day Updated

Which one is the numerator and which one is the denominator? A common question, answered easily by "Have a Nice Day." N, D - Nice Day, Numerator, Denominator.

Here are a few more... ND - No Date

ND - No Dice

ND - Nice Dog

ND - North Dakota

ND - Nice Dangle (Hockey players will get this one.)

Dividing Fractions #%$^&*() Don't choke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dividing fractions? Don't choke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't one of the fractions supposed to be flipped around or something? I can never remember which one...

Here's the easy way to remember the process...

(Note - you are under no obligation to use this simple and easy to remember explanation. You can use any unnecessarily long and convoluted method you wish to help explain it.)

So what is 6/31  divided by 2/3?

Here's dad and son. Dad is 6 feet tall and aged 31. Dad is first in age so he's the first fraction.

Son is 2 feet tall and aged 3 months. Son is second.

Son starts to choke...

Dad, being dad, starts to swear. (He never swore much before the had children.) Swearing is bad (apparently), so we cross this out. Son gets turned upside down and becomes 3/2. Choking stopped!


So now we have 6/31  X   3/2

Solve as you would a normal fraction multiplication question. Remember....

Leave the first fraction alone. The guy is trying to save his son's life, here, people, so leave him alone to get on with the job. Please disperse. Back away from the man. Go about your business.

Turn the 2nd fraction upside down.

Put an X between your two fractions.

Solve as you would a normal fraction multiplication question.



Work smart, not hard.

Look "Ma", no hands!

     3
2  ----
     7


Changing a mixed number to an improper fraction?


Step One - Like every job, start at the bottom. (I think Rodney Dangerfield said that proctology is the only profession where you start at the bottom and stay there.) Start with the 7.


Step Two - Work Clockwise 


Step 3 - Remember to listen to Ma! M = Multiply, A = Add


Step 4 - Multiply 7 by 2 to get 14.


Step 5 - Add 14 to the 3. You now have 17.


Step 6 - Your denominator stays 7.


Your new improper fraction is...


  17
------
   7

Beer saves the day - again. Improper Fractions

21   What do I do with this improper fraction?

 8

You need to change it into a mixed fraction. How do you do this? Well, think of beer. You have 21 bottles but can only carry 8 bottles at a time...

You will make 1 full trip, carrying 8 bottles.

You will make a 2nd full trip carrying another 8 bottles.

You have 5 bottles left.  They do not represent a "full" trip. Your 2 "full trips" become the whole number component of the mixed fraction. 

Your 5 bottles that are "left over" go on the top shelf of the fridge. (That is where all left overs go." Your denominator was 8, so let's keep it at 8. You now have...

2  5

     8    

For a video explanation, start 2 minutes into the video here

Have a Nice Day!

Which one is the numerator and which one is the denominator? A common question, answered easily by "Have a Nice Day." N, D - Nice Day, Numerator, Denominator.