Math Monday - Which Fraction is Better?

4/29/2013

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     There are two ways to convert a fraction into a decimal. The first way is to do it by using place values. Look at the decimal, if it is a regular decimal all you have to do is to use place values. If the decimal is 0.33. Use place values. Ones, then tens, then hundreds. The answer is 33/100, because you keep the numbers in the decimal and just put in the place value as the denominator. I the decimal is 3.42, then go for the place value again. Ones, tens, hundreds. The number is 42/100 and add the 3 and therefore the number is 3 42/100. However, you are not done, simplify 3 42/100, which equals 3 21/50.
     Another way is to multiply or find the least common denominator. If the decimal was .11, then make it into a fraction by putting a one under it. Next, you get .11/1, then multiply it with 100. You should get 11/100. Since you don't need to simplify the answer is still 11/100. If it were to be a mix number like 1 11/100 when you convert it to a fraction, keep the one or whole number and you should end up with 1 11/100. I prefer using the least common multiple, to convert the decimal into a fraction because it is easier not to remember all the place values. Also, multiplying by a hundred is simple and cannot be hard.
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Math Monday - Which Decimal is Better?

4/22/2013

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There are two ways to convert a fraction into a decimal. But which way is better? There is no right or wrong way. One way is to divide the denominator by the numerator. If it is a mix number, change it into an improper fraction by multiplying the denominator by the whole number and adding the numerator to it. Then divide the numerator into the denominator and that it how to turn a fraction into a decimal. 
      Another way is to know your place values. If the fraction was one tenth, in decimals place values, it would be ones, decimal, tens, hundred, and so on. Therefore, the decimal will be 0.1, because there is no whole number, so there should only be a one in the tens place. Sometimes if the fraction is like 1/4 then you will have to divide the numerator into the denominator because there is no place values for that. I like using the way where you divide the numerator into the denominator. It is more exact too. 
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Math Monday - Ratio the Benefit

4/8/2013

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I think that ratio is better to use than percentages because by using percentages you don't get the exact number. Such as, 35%, you do not know how much 35% percent is unless you do the math and that takes more time. Sometimes you may end up with decimals, and that is even harder to solve the problem. Very least of the time, you do not have to do the math because each percent represent one item or thing. 
     If I owned a restaurant and is running short on bread, I would use a ratio to help me by dividing it up into quarters to equal 100. So it will be like one fourth, two fourth, and so on. The ones equal 25. What if I had spend half of my amount of bread and needed more? Well, that will be using 2/4 of bread and to keep supplies full, I will simply buy another 2/4. I buy another 2/4 loaves of bread because I want to keep my supplies full to a 100%. So, 2/4+2/4 equals 4/4 or one whole. By using a ratio you know how much quantities you are going to buy. You could divide up 100 into how much you would like, as long as it is equal to 100.
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