Math Fractions - add, subtract, multiply, divide fractions

In this course we're going to work through a whole range of topics to encourage you to get the very best from your maths studies.

Packed with hints and tips, this course is based on more than 14 years of one to one tutoring. During that time I've enjoyed working with students wanting to improve grades, career changes, adult learners and teachers. Fractions is one of the key skills and, as you work through this course, your knowledge of maths will really improve.

By the end of the course you should be able to work confidently with fractions.. and more importantly, 'see' fractions in all sorts of different topics. From trigonometry to gradient and ratio, there's sure to be a fraction in there somewhere!

Hi and welcome to 'How to be good at maths - and great at fractions!'

This lecture introduces two key concepts:

• How to read a fraction - it's not just 'one quarter,' sometimes it's far better to read as ''one out of four.' Subtle difference? Yes, but it can make a lot of difference as the fractions get more complicated.
• Equivalence - one of the most useful ways of working with fractions. An ideal method of calculation, that just makes numbers easier.

In the next few lectures we'll be developing these ideas just a little more.

Using equivalent fractions is a key skill when dealing with fractions. It's used in many calculations including adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing, as well as many (most) of the word problems towards the end of the course.

Try to practice using equivalent fractions as much as possible and, as you are working through high school maths, there should be lots of opportunities.

As I reviewed this course there was a number of times I used phrases such as

• 'Mixed numbers'
• 'Top heavy fractions'
• 'Improper fractions'

Find out what I'm talking about in this lecture!

Try this test to really help with working with mixed numbers. Most of the questions you'll be asked in high school maths are given in a mixed number format - there's a good example in the machine tool lecture towards the end of the course.

These type of questions are very common in high school maths.

I've used, I hope, a fairly easy method to understand. The main thing is not to get too tied up in knots, use a logical way of working, and write everything down. It's also good, if you can, to work down the page with each calculation below the previous.

There's basically two methods to subtract fractions:

THE HARD WAY... change everything to improper fractions, use a whole load of big numbers, multiply lots, divide too much, get confused and check everything all over again.

The EASY way.. use this neat little trick to make your calculations SOOO much easier.

Enjoy!

Can you cut a cake into 32 pieces?

Slightly tricky but, hopefully, you're getting the hang of this now.

These are the kind of questions that you'll get in high school - around age 16. In the UK this would be considered a C grade at GCSE.

Dividing fractions is exactly the same as multiplying.. with a twist

Forget the words.. just look for the maths!

Try your hand at working through these equivalent ratios.. remember they are just fractions.

Just a few real life maths questions as some additional practice.

Thank you for being the main reason for this course!

This is the first in a series of cheat sheets - I'll upload more as they are created. I hope they help and please do leave any comments in the discussion section.