RATIOS

This was the Do Now to get us started so we could talk about and learn more about a ratio. Some students said they had heard the word before but couldn't explain it. The Do Now fixed that :)

1.) Look at the picture and record the data
 red - 5
 green - 3
 purple - 10
 orange - 7
 yellow - 6
I asked for people to make comments about what they noticed from the data. Right away a student said "there are more purple than any of the other colors." She hit the NAIL ON THE HEAD, I then asked what she had to do to come to this conclusion and another students said "she compared the purple to the other colors" YES YES YES.

This was a great way to start our lesson, I quickly said this comparison can be made into a ratio because that is exactly what a ratio is, a comparison of quantities. Together with the class we began comparing the numbers of each skittle.

Purple to Green
Yellow to Orange
All to Purple

Afterwards we looked at the 3 ways to write a ratio, you can use a colon, the word "to", or write the comparison as a fraction. For example, 1:3 or 1 to 3, or 1/3

WHAT IS A RATIO?

Here is a video to help you get familiar with the vocabulary for the Ratio and Proportion Unit.

We are starting a new unit on Ratio's and Proportions. This week we are going to be working with Ratio's only. We will be learning how to write a ratio, simplify a ratio, and create other equivalent ratios.

A ratio is a comparison of quantities.

DIVIDING FRACTIONS

Before you freak out over the word DIVIDE understand to divide a fraction you actually multiply. You will not be dividing at all. So no need to freak out!!!!!!

The process I use to divide fractions is called KFC. It stands for Keep Flip Change

Keep – Keep the first fraction the same

                Flip – Flip over the 2^nd fraction (this is called the reciprocal)

                Change – Change the division sign to multiplication and then multiply the 2 fractions

After you keep, flip, and change you will multiply the same way we learned yesterday.

Numerator x Numerator

Denominator x Denominator

Simplify (Fraction in lowest terms and Proper)

IS IT SIMPLIFIED??????

For my students this seems to be the million dollar question. Is it simplified? I don't know, is it?

There are ways to know if a number is simplified. You have to be on the lookout for the following things:

• Is there a prime number in the fraction? (is the numerator or denominator prime)
• Is the fraction made up of a even number and an odd number?

If the answer to either of these is NO, then the fraction is simplified.

• Are the numerator and denominator both even?
• Are the numerator and denominator both odd?
• Is there a common factor between the numerator and the denominator?

If the answer to either of these is YES, then the fraction is NOT simplified.

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Simplifying means you are creating an equivalent fraction using the simplest terms possible. This means you are creating the same fraction using smaller numbers. To do this you will always divide. You will first have to find a factor that is common to the numerator and the denominator. Next you will divide the numerator and denominator by the common factor. To make sure it is completely simplied go through the questions above. If the fraction is not simplified you will need to find another common fraction to divide by until the fraction is completely simplified.

*You will find that if you use the largest common factor that the fraction will be simplified much quicker.*

MULTIPLY FRACTIONS

Please understand me when I say multiplying fractions is easy, I truely mean it. Multiplying fractions is actually really really easy. I would not ever say something was easy if I didn't believe it to true.

The class was given a graphic organizer that simply shows how to multiply a fraction times another fraction. On the back are the problems to be practiced. If the sheet isn't completed in class it is homework.

FRACTION PRACTICE GAMES

Sheppard Software (many different fraction activities)
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm#fractions

Fraction Games (many diffferent fraction topics)
http://www.jamit.com.au/fraction-games.htm

Soccer Math - Simplifying Fractions
http://www.math-play.com/simplifying-fractions-game/simplifying-fractions-game.html

Football Math - Adding Fractions
http://www.math-play.com/football-math-adding-fractions/football-math-adding-fractions.html

Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Noah
http://www.math-play.com/Adding-Fractions-Game.html

Game Aquarium - Lots of games to choose from
http://www.gamequarium.com/fractions4.html

Fraction Games Online - Choose what you want to play and practice
http://fractiongamesonline.com/

WOWZERS I'M BEHIND!!!!

I have gotten so behind and haven't updated the classroom blog in forever. I am very sorry. So a run down on what we have been up to lately. Since Christmas we have begun working on Fractions. We have been making sure we have all our basic fraction knowledge mastered and are gearing up to begin working on multiplying and dividing fractions. Below is a list of things we have been working on. Also in a following post will be a bunch of games for you to practice all these fraction skills.

FRACTION STUFF!!!

• Writing Fractions
• Equivalent Fractions (Multiplying the numerator and denominator by a number)
• Simplifying Fractions (Dividing the numerator and denominator by a common factor)
• Changing Mixed Numbers into Improper Fractions
• Changing Improper Fractions into Mixed Numbers
• Adding Fractions (Butterfly Method)
• Subtracting Fractions (Butterfly Method)