Chapter 7
Fractions and the Big Four
In This Chapter
Multiplying and dividing fractions
Knowing a variety of methods for adding and subtracting fractions
Applying the Big Four operations to mixed numbers
After you get the basics of fractions (which I cover in Chapter 6), you need to know how to apply the Big Four operations — adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing — to fractions and mixed numbers. In this chapter, I get you up to speed. First, I show you how to multiply and divide fractions — surprisingly, these two operations are the easiest to do. Next, I show you how to add fractions that have a common denominator (that is, fractions that have the same bottom number). After that, you discover a couple ways to add fractions that have different denominators. Then I repeat this process for subtracting fractions.
After that, I focus on mixed numbers. Again, I start with multiplication and division and then move on to the more difficult operations of addition and subtraction. At the end of this chapter, you should have a solid understanding of how to apply each of the Big Four operations to both fractions and mixed numbers.
Multiplying Fractions: A Straight Shot
Why can't ...
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