Math Fractions - add, subtract, multiply, divide fractions

Improve your math skills with essential top tips to work with math fractions simply and easily

Created bySimon Deacon

Last updated 9/2015

English

What you'll learn

Work with fractions confidentally
Be able to identify questions that can be easily calculated using a fraction
Appreciate that some high level maths, is just a slightly different way of dealing with a fraction
Enjoy seeing how some maths at high school can have a common thread

Course content

4 sections • 22 lectures • 1h 35m total length

Introductions all around0:48
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!
Two key skills for dealing with fractions5:47
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.
What? So soon? ... a quick test to get you started5:24
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.
A couple more definitions as they're used all the time in the rest of the course4:29
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!
.. and here's a very quick mixed number test3:28
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.
Definitions quiz - I couldn't have put it better myself

Adding fractions the easy way6:26
Adding fractions, even when they look more difficult4:41
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.
Fraction takeaway. If you can add, you can subtract!2:33
Subtracting harder fractions, the easy way - with a trick.4:44
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.
Test everything so far8:39
Enjoy!
Introduction to multiplying fractions - what 'of' really means.3:05
Can you cut a cake into 32 pieces?
Multiplying fractions at high school level5:19
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 - with a twist3:53
Dividing fractions is exactly the same as multiplying.. with a twist
Haven't had a test for a while? ..now's your chance!6:46

Algebraic fractions - a great way to impress with your new knowledge!7:15
Thank you for being the main reason for this course!
FREE BONUS! 'How to get an A in maths' Amazon bestseller1:12:00
ANOTHER FREE BONUS! Fractions cheat sheet1:00
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.

Requirements

A pencil and paper.. definitely not a calculator!

Description

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How to get an A in math* is definitely not another 'this is how to add fractions, calculate an angle or solve algebra' math guide. Based on 14 years tutoring experience, this ebook is practical and straightforward:

where to start with math
look for the 'tells'
draw the question
try not to underline
three calculation methods you absolutely need to know for math
top tips for working with math fractions simply and easily
.. and many more

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Course Information:

Math can sometimes be a little tricky as there just seems so much to learn. In high school there are around 60 topics, from trigonometry to cumulative frequency and back again to quadratic formulas - that's a whole range of subjects that you need to know to be successful in your studies!

The good news is that there are common threads.. and a great understanding of math fractions, will help you to feel confident about working through some of the more challenging questions.

Questions that involve math fractions - adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing are very popular in exam papers. Whether you're studying GCSE, or SAT a great understanding of math fractions can really make a difference in your grade score.

If math was always about "arithmetic" you might not need this course. When you have been given an addition or multiplication math question it's usually fairly straightforward. The difficulty is when math is presented as a "word problem" and you need to work through to a final answer.

This course will help you to spend time understanding the wording, without worrying about the calculation. Math fractions - adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing - is a crash course in helping you to get the very best from your math studies:

the two key skills you need, to work with math fractions
how to use 'equivalence' for easy fraction calculation methods
get rid of lots of big numbers that take too much time to work through
find ways of really understanding the question... without worrying about the numbers

Math fractions - adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing - is ideal for all high school students wanting to improve their grade, parents helping with math homework, career changers or anyone wishing to gain a deeper understanding of math.

Each short lecture is easy to understand and presented using actual exam questions. There's a little bit of humour, a lot of whiteboard and a logical development through all of the topics:

adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing math fractions
easy to solve 'word problems' by using equivalent math fractions
ratio, percentages and people selling raffle tickets
some really hard stuff at the end - introducing 'algebraic math fractions' (a great way to really impress your kids)

* In the UK 'maths'

Who this course is for:

This course is for students at high school, adult learners, parents helping with homework, career changers and anyone wanting to work through to higher level maths. You'll need familiarity with times tables and perhaps a little bit of confidence - although we're going to increase that tenfold!

Math Fractions - add, subtract, multiply, divide fractions

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Welcome5 lectures • 20min

How to calculate using fractions .. the main methods you need to know9 lectures • 46min

The real deal - here's the kind of 'word problems' you'll get5 lectures • 22min

What's next?3 lectures • 1hr 20min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: