SOLUTION: my daughter is learning fractions in 6th grade. The confusion starts during word problems. In some cases the fraction is inversed and then multiplied and in some its taken directly

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Question 87642: my daughter is learning fractions in 6th grade. The confusion starts during word problems. In some cases the fraction is inversed and then multiplied and in some its taken directly. I too fail to explain it - as their teacher has not given the rule when to invert the fraction and when not to. Please help - her exams are near.
Answer by pkgupta_mathstutor@yahoo.co.in(2) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For ADDITION & SUBTRACTION the FRACTIONS ARE taken as it is they are given
and the operation is performed .
Example1: Add -1/5 and 2/3
Solution:
STEP 1: -1/5 + 2/3
STEP 2: Take LCM of 5 & 3 which is 15 , now multiply Numerator &Denominator of 1st Fraction by 3 & 2nd Fraction by 5 to make Denominators of both Fractions
equal.
STEP 3:we get -3/15 +10/15 as Denominators of both Fractions are equal we add Numerators.
STEP 4:as signs of -3 & 10 are different we subtract 3 from 10 thus we get
7/15 as ANSWER
HENCE -1/5 + 2/3 = 7/15
NOTE: (If signs of two integers are same we ADD them if there signs are different we SUBTRACT smaller from bigger one )
FOR MULTIPLICATION & DIVISION
Example2: Mutiply -3/4 and 5/7
Solution:
STEP 1: -3/4 X 5/7
WE multiply both Numerators & Denominators of the fractions but before that we reduce them to their lowest terms.
STEP 2:(-3 X 5) /(4 X 7) = -15 / 28
HENCE -3/4 X 5/7 = -15 / 28 ANSWER
Example3: Divide 4/9 by 10/27
Solution:
STEP 1: (4/9)/(10/27)
STEP 2:(4/9 X 27/10 ) WE RECIPROCATE THE 2nd fraction to convert Division into Multiplication
STEP 3: ON REDUCING WE GET 6/5 AS ANSWER
HOPE YOU GOT YOUR SOLUTION pkgupta_mathstutor@yahoo.co.in