Unit 3: Rational Number Operations
Topic 1: Fraction Review
The Meaning of a Fraction:
- Part of a Group – The fraction of something shaded
- Part of a Whole – The fraction of the entirety of something
Equivalent Fractions:
- Considered equivalent
- Only if they represent the same value or proportion
- E.g, ½ = 2/4
Fractions in Simplest Form:
- Written in lowest term – no number except 1 that can be divided
evenly
- Must be divided into both numerator and denominator
- E.g., 25/100 = ¼
Writing Fractions:
- Proper Fractions – fraction whose numerator is smaller than the
denominator
- A proper fraction represents less than a whole
- Improper – A fraction whose numerator is larger than the denominator
- An improper fraction represents more than one whole
- Mixed Number – A number made of a whole part and a fraction
- Another way to express an improper fraction
Topic 2: Addition and Subtraction
Finding the LCD:
- Two or more fractions have a common denominator
- Only if their denominators are the same
- Useful to manipulate fractions so that they have a common
denominator
- Use LCD to avoid having to perform arithmetic on large numbers
Adding and Subtracting with DIFFERENT Denominators:
- Steps:
1. Change to improper fraction
2. Determine LCD of the set of fractions
3. Rewrite the fractions so that they share a denominator
4. Add/Subtract the numerators; leave the denominator unchanged
5. Reduce the result if necessary
Topic 3: Multiplication
Multiplication of Fractions
- Steps:
1. Convert all mixed numbers into improper fractions
2. REDUCE if possible
3. Multiply numerators together
4. Multiply denominators together
5. REDUCE AGAIN if possible
Topic 4: Division
- Convert all mixed fractions into improper fractions
- Take the reciprocal of the second fraction
- Change the division operation to a multiplication operation
- Multiply normally
- If the product of two fractions is divided by one of fractions the other
factor
Topic 5: Decimal Conversion
- Any rational number can be written as wither a
terminating/repeating decimal
- Divide the numerator by the denominator
- If you end up with a remainder of 0, they you have a TERMINATING
decimal
- If you end up with a remainder of a number other than 0, you have
REPEATING decimal
- For a repeating decimal, you can draw a horizontal line above the
decimal to show repeats
Topic 6: Ordering
- Must be done carefully!
- Making a table with the decimal point in the same place for each
number helps
- 3 Different Ways:
Converting Decimals – convert fraction to decimal (denom. of
100)
Create Common Denominators – Multiply denom. to get same
number
Inspection – Use visuals (“pizza pieces): Which one SEEMS
bigger?
Topic 7: Add/Subtract Decimals
- Most important: Line of place value + keep work neat
- Line up the decimals as well for a correct answer
E.g.,
56523.902
25456.477
Topic 8: Multiply Decimals
- Multiply decimal by a whole number
Ignore decimal point – multiply digits normally
Place decimal point in answer so that is has the same number of
decimal places
Same number of decimal places as the number being multiplied
- Multiply decimal by a decimal
Temporarily ignore decimal points – multiply digits normally
Final answer should have the sum of number of decimal places
Sum of number of decimal places of the 2 numbers being
multiplied