Please...Need more help with kid's math homework.

[hang a left]

You guys helped me the other night. My kid's project is due tomorrow. I just found out he was not even close to finished. He is sooooooo grounded, but that is a different story.

I need help in how to explain to find the answer to the following math problems. Just a word answer like ie "You multply the numerators as whole numbers, then you multiply the denominators as whole numbers."

Dividing Fractions

How to Reduce

Proportions

Thanks you so much if you are able to help. I don't remember how to do these problems, and his math book is even more confusing. :dunce:

[yewberry]

1. Eek, that was a while ago.

Dividing fractions:
Invert the number you want to divide by and multiply the numerators (top numbers) together and the denominators (bottom numbers) together. Example:

3/4÷1/2 => 3/4x2/1 =6/4 which reduces to 3/2

or

1/2 ÷ 1/4 => 1/2x 4/1=4/2 which reduces to 2/1, or 2



Reducing Fractions:
Find the highest common factor (the highest number that goes evenly into both numbers) for the numerator and denominator and divide both by that number. Example:

25/5 would have 5 as the highest common factor, so divide both by 5 and you get 5/1

9/6 would have 3 as the highest common factor, so divide both by 3 and you get 3/2


I'm not sure what you're asking about proportions. Fractions? Ratios?

Good luck! (I *think* I'm remembering these right!)

[alarcojon]

2. You're doing fine

Math prof here. You're right, it's hard to tell exactly what the OP means by "proportions."

[yewberry]

3. Why'd you let ME answer those, math man?

My degree work was in poetry and rhetoric!

(Thanks for the reassurance though--Sometimes I think I don't know anything about math.)

[alarcojon]

6. Just didn't happen to check in until after you.

My DU time has been limited of late.

[yewberry]

21. Kidding out of desperation.

I'm glad you came along to check our work.

I don't want to lead anyone astray!

[Kali]

5. Ratios would be my guess.

[hang a left]

11. I guess I mean solving proportions or finding equal ratios.

Forgive me...his 6th grade math is already over my head. I didn't even have this math until high school and I missed LOTS of high school.

[aclog]

28. Well I'm just a lowly math major :)

but what came to my mind is a is proportional to b if a is some multiple of b but that seems a little beyond what they're looking for here...

[hang a left]

9. That is good good good.

I have been googling and haven't been back to check my thread. I found webpages that explain how to find proportions, ratios that are equal but for the life of me I can figure out how to explain it?? I am really bad with finding words.

[yewberry]

20. Well, if I understand you

ratios are treated similarly to fractions, really, but just expressed in a different way. (Note--the ":" should be read as "is to.")

If you have ratios that are equal, they can be reduced to the same lowest form. Example:


18:3 as 24:4

The relationship is the same. 18 is to 3 as 24 is to 8. First, find your highest common factors for each side.

18 and 3 are both divisible by 3, and the ratio is then 6:1. 24 and 4 are both divisible by 4, and the ratio is then 6:1.

6:1 is equal to 6:1.



I hope this is what you mean.

[hang a left]

26. Thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time...

that must have taken you a while. :)

[WindRavenX]

4. how bad is it that I can't do this shit?

And I'm a biology major....

[alarcojon]

8. Probably pretty bad

Most of my college algebra students have trouble with manipulation of fractions like this. I think it's just a mental block - it's just not that hard.

A little quantitative ability could help with a bio degree, I do believe...

[WindRavenX]

10. FWIW, I do have mild dyslexia

I can't do mental math at all.

But give me astrophysics problems that I can work out? SWEET.

[yewberry]

13. I'm the same way.

I was AWFUL at math...until trig. Then something went off in my head and I liked it.

I think I was the only Creative Writing major in my Chem class--that's when I really got engaged in math!

[alarcojon]

15. I'm sorry if I came off judgmental

no offense meant. Enjoy that astrophysics!

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. You should talk to his teacher

Homework is not supposed to be this hard. If he doesn't understand his homework, it is either way too hard or he isn't paying attention in class.

[hang a left]

12. He does have a slight learning disability and he is struggling

right now. I am not a big help either.

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. Here are some sites that may help out

Sites for kids:
(Fractions and reducing)
http://www.kidsolr.com/math/fractions.html

http://www.coolmath4kids.com/fractions/

Proportions/ratios

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001558.shtml

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/58044.html

[hang a left]

25. Thank you Nelly.

:)

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. I am an LD teacher

I think it's awesome that you are helping him. But you need to remember that homework is an INDEPENDENT activity. If he needs help too often, maybe you should talk to his teacher about modifying his homework. It is NOT supposed to be an exercise in frustration.

[hang a left]

30. I know...

and I am very strict about homework. He dropped the ball. But he had this math book project that is due tomorrow. I asked him at 6:00 if he had it done. It was less than half done and he didn't even bring home all the instructions with him on Friday. We had to call one of his classmates to find out what was supposed to be on the last 6 pages. So I ended up doing almost all of the last part of this project so he could get to bed on time and not have it to turn in tomorrow. He is in HUGH trouble. I normally take him to school 45 minutes early every day so he can play football. That is a no go this week.

He also has an Egyptian report that is due in two weeks. I laid down the law tonight. He cannot have any friends over or have any extra activities until he has it completely done. I am not going to end up doing his report for him at the last minute, again.

He normally is pretty good. I have to crack the whip now and then and this is one of those times. He has a 3.47 GPA right now. He has auditory processing so he has to work harder than most kids, and I have to push him. Not too much, he has a lot of priveleges and many things that other kids don't have. I don't ask much from him other than to keep his school work number one.

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. Don't do his homework for him

Give him a place to do it and make sure he understands the assignment and then walk away. He needs to learn the consequences of not using his time well.

Really.

When you do it for him you are just delaying the inevitable. And making your own life miserable.

Besides, I am assuming you already passed whatever grade he is in. That's what I tell my kids when they want me to do an assignment for them - 'why? I already passed the 5th grade'.

[barb162]

14. proportions

Are you saying that 6/10 is the same as 12/20 or are we talking about something completely different.

[hang a left]

16. I guess what I meant is how you solve a proportion..

[alarcojon]

18. Try this

to solve x/2 = 3/5, cross multiply to get 5x=6 and then divide both sides by 5 to get the answer 6/5 or 1.2

[hang a left]

24. thanks...

I am going to get up real early and look at this. I think I can figure out how to explain it by your example. I just can't think anymore right now. You have been great.

[barb162]

19. Does this help or hinder

http://www.eduplace.com/math/mathsteps/6/a/

[hang a left]

23. You are sweet, thanks

I have looked there. I still can't figure out how to explain how to do it in two to four sentences. He is making this math book where you explain how to solve different math problems. My brain is mush right now. I will get up very early and look again and see if I can figure out how to explain it.

[barb162]

29. How about

find the common divisor between the upper and lower numbers, in this case 2 for 6/10. dividing by 2 gives 3/5.

For "raising" the proportion, find a common number and multiply the upper and lower number by thast number to keep the proportion. SO for 6/10, the common number is 2 (or 3 or 4, etc) and multiply both numerator and denominator by 2. 12/20 results.

[hang a left]

32. Thanks barb

[hfojvt]

27. my word explanation is

Look in the back of the book, often the answers can be found there, especially if you have a teacher's edition.

[aclog]

31. OK

Reducing fractions:

We reduce a fraction to lowest terms by finding an equivalent fraction in which the numerator and denominator are as small as possible.

This means that there is no number, except 1, that can be divided evenly into both the numerator and the denominator.

To reduce a fraction to lowest terms, divide the numerator and denominator by their Greatest Common Factor (GCF). This is also called simplifying the fraction.

Dividing fractions

1. Invert (i.e. turn over) the denominator fraction and multiply the fractions
2. Multiply the numerators of the fractions
3. Multiply the denominators of the fractions
4. Place the product of the numerators over the product of the denominators

As for proportions its too much to type out here but the teacher probably means something like this:

http://www.freemathhelp.com/proportions.html

[hang a left]

33. I heart you

:)

[aclog]

34. right back atcha

from a big math nerd ;)

[Sequoia]

36. Don't ask me, I helped my kid and the answers were wrong.