To keep the multiplying and dividing processes straight.
Sorry – I couldn’t resist a little extra rhyming there. Apparently, I’m in rhyme mode. But it was necessary to save our sanity during math time. I promise.
Princess has recently learned how to divide fractions. Before that, of course, she learned how to multiply them, and she was doing just fine. In fact, she’s never really had a fraction-related problem AT ALL. That is, until we introduced– DUH, DUH, DUHHH… DIVISION.
Suddenly everything went out the window. Her frustration (and mine) was mounting as she no longer was certain when to flip, when not to flip, WHICH ONE to flip… it was mass confusion.
In case you’ve not quite reached that point with your child and you need a refresher course, for I’m not sure I would have remembered if I hadn’t read the lesson first, when multiplying fractions you multiply numerators and then multiply denominators and then you simplify/reduce. When dividing fractions, first you “flip” the divisor (the one you are dividing BY: 1/4 divided BY 2/3) and then you multiply like before. (1/4 / 2/3 = 1/4 X 3/2 = 3/8.)
Poor Princess. She couldn’t keep it straight. And it only got worse when you added “multiplying and dividing a fraction and a whole number” and “multiplying and dividing mixed fractions.”
Oh the Fraction Blues.
So tonight, as I mentioned, we made a rhyme. And I’m really hoping that it will help, that she can recite it to herself when she’s doubting what to do. Here it goes:
Multiplying fractions
Is as easy as pie.
Multiply each straight across
And then simplify.
Dividing gets a bit tricky,
There’s an extra step to take.
First flip the one you’re dividing BY
And the rest’s a piece of cake.
The only that I’m not completely satisfied with is that the rhyme doesn’t SAY to multiply across after you flip — but she’s got that part down. This rhyme will help her remember that there is no flipping while multiplying and which one to flip while dividing. Whatcha think? Think it will help? *fingers crossed*
Do you have any fancy rhymes or tricks that you teach your kids?
Photo Credit: 
Some rights reserved by TheCulinaryGeek
Share it! Pin it. Print it. Send it.
Love it! Will be adding this to my list to share with the kiddos. {speedymom from twitter}
Wonderful! Thanks for creating it and sharing. We are not there yet, but this rhyme is going into my tools right now!
I am so Math dumb that even that is lost on me! lol I know- it’s bad! That is why I bought Math U See! Great rhyme though!
Kristal – Yay!! Thanks! We recited it today before math and she got considerably less frustrated while she was working on her lesson. *crossing fingers* Stephanie – Thank you! Maybe this will come in handy some time. That would be cool. =) Sam – No worries! Like I said, I doubt I would have remembered how to do it if you’d asked before we got to that lesson. =p And hubs looked at me like I was crazy when he asked what she was doing and I explained it. Like, “Okay, I’ll take your word for it.” And he’s the… Read more »
Thanks so much for sharing this rhyme! My son has a hard time with keeping all the different math steps straight. I hope this’ll help!