Fraction

A fraction represents a part of a whole or, more generally, any number of equal parts. The numerator represents a number of equal parts, and the denominator, which cannot be zero, indicates how many of those parts make up a unit or a whole. 

I have learnt from Dr. Yeap that when we say a fraction term e.g. 1/4, we cannot say 1 upon 4 or 1 out of 4, we have to say it - one fourth or one quarter.  Hmm...I wonder how these terms derived in our daily lives?

Dr. Yeap then challenged us on a fraction problem - sharing a piece of cake equally among 4 persons using the paper he has provided for us.  My classmates and I folded the paper into three different types of fraction(see figures of rectangles) easily.

Dr. Yeap continued to challenge us by asking us is it possible to divide them into other shapes equally and this is how we derive by having Triangles(see figures of triangles).  He further asked are there anymore shapes we can derive.  Some of our classmates have come up with some shapes and Dr. Yeap asked if these shapes are of equal portion?  Initially I thought it was not as the shapes are uneven from a glance.  Later, I tried doing it on the piece of paper, I realised they are of equal portions(paper is divided into 16 parts and each portion consist of 4 parts).

 

 

 

We do not visualise to determine the equal portion but need to work it out on concrete materials.  Math is really a fun subject to explore!

 

Here are some fraction activities you may wish to try:

 

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgames/fractions/Balloons_fractions1.htm
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/math/studytools/cgi-bin/msgQuiz.php4?isbn=1-57039-850-X&chapter=3&lesson=1
http://www.interactivestuff.org/sums4fun/efrac1.html