"New" Method for fractions

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  • March 19, 2014 at 2:50 am
    nerakr
    Participant

    I found these links on Pinterest and wonder if anyone has used them for fractions:

    Criss cross applesauce method:

    http://jrh794.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/fast-fractions-easy-system/

    Butterfly method (similar):

    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/451626668852671440/

    They seem easier than trying to find GCF and LCM and invert/multiply for division, but wonder if they would be easier for mixed numbers?

    TIA,

    Karen

    March 19, 2014 at 3:02 am
    Sue
    Participant

    The butterfly method is basically what Steven Demme teaches in MUS Epsilon as what he calls the “Rule of Four.” He wants students to understand this (to grasp the underlying concept) before he teaches the method for division where you use the reciprocal. It worked fine for my daughter, but she actually prefers using the inverse and working with GCF’s and LCM’s.

    March 19, 2014 at 1:08 pm
    sarah2106
    Participant

    When I was learning math I was taught with the butterfly method. It really made sense to me. I was homeschooled and we used Saxon, but I don’t remember if it was a method my mom or dad knew and taught me or if it was something taught in Saxon. All I knows is that it worked for me 🙂

    March 19, 2014 at 5:51 pm
    nerakr
    Participant

    So how does it work for mixed numbers? Do you have to convert them to improper fractions first? I know you would anyway for multiplication and division, regardless of method, but what about when adding and subtracting?

    March 19, 2014 at 6:52 pm
    Sara B.
    Participant

    Criss-cross is what I learned in school.  Butterfly looks exactly the same, except it’s drawing a picture to do it.  I didn’t know there was another way to do fractions?  Smile

    And yes, for mixed numbers, we always converted them to improper fractions first.  At least, the part of fraction math that I remember…  Wink

    March 19, 2014 at 11:34 pm
    nerakr
    Participant

    Thanks.

    March 20, 2014 at 1:51 am
    Rachel White
    Participant

    My son despises the rule of four from MUS. He prefers what Sue’s dd does and that’s how I learned. I don’t require him to do it Demme’s way.

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