Based on Faith Academy Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I am using Teaching Textbooks to teach my ds Algebra 2. This is my second year using it. I was using Abeka when I taught him Algebra 1. As we have been going through the lessons this year, there seems to be a reoccurring trend of not changing improper fractions into mixed number. Everything I have ever been taught and all that he has learned thus far was that improper fractions must always be changed. Is that no longer the rule? Am I missing something? I would love it if you could help my son and me understand why this has suddenly changed. Thank you immensely!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 On a side note, you may overrule TT any time you wish and ask your student to adhere to a preferred practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 When working with algebraic equations, mixed numbers are not used if I am not mistaken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scbusf Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 When working with algebraic equations, mixed numbers are not used if I am not mistaken. Math teacher here - I agree with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I would prefer them to be left as improper fractions unless they are the final answer to a word problem. For example: How many yards of fabric must I buy? Ans: 4 and a half is more useful than Ans: 9/2. For problems where the answer is simply a number it doesn't matter. For problems where further calculations must be done with the number it is less useful to have it in mixed number form, because then you have to turn it BACK into an improper fraction to continue calculating. According to Jann in TX (because I trust her and I haven't seen the book myself), Abeka's algebra 1 is a reprint of the Heath Algebra text from 1914. At the time, it was customary to convert to mixed numbers, but now it is customary to leave them in fractional form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Based on Faith Academy Posted October 10, 2014 Author Share Posted October 10, 2014 These are all a help to me. I especially love the idea of looking at SAT answers. That would be a great idea. I tried looking online for an answer to my question but besides what information I found at WIKI How, I could not find anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 One thing to keep in mind is that it's important for students to be comfortable going from mixed numbers to fractions to decimals (any one to another). All three have their uses in modern math. When they get the correct answer in one form, but an answer key shows it in another, they should be able to easily recognize that they got it right - perhaps wanting to adjust the type to fit the question (like with the fabric example). For most basic Alg+ questions, keeping it as a fraction is still preferred. In our school, decimals are preferred to mixed numbers in Alg+, but I've no idea how widespread that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 For most basic Alg+ questions, keeping it as a fraction is still preferred. In our school, decimals are preferred to mixed numbers in Alg+, but I've no idea how widespread that is. Seriously?? That is so bizarre ... maybe it is just because it is easier for them to get a calculator answer than to work with the fractions? At any rate, it's definitely NOT preferred in any college I've ever been at -- we try very hard to STOP them from turning it into decimals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 Seriously?? That is so bizarre ... maybe it is just because it is easier for them to get a calculator answer than to work with the fractions? At any rate, it's definitely NOT preferred in any college I've ever been at -- we try very hard to STOP them from turning it into decimals. I suspect calculator use it a big part of it - but it's also likely due to computers and programming too - considering decimals the "wave of the future." When "working" with problems, we Alg+ teachers want them to keep things in fractions as variables don't covert into decimals easily ;) . But for answers, decimal form is encouraged over mixed numbers and is equally allowed with proper fractions (1/2 could be written as 0.5 and the answer would still be correct). Some go further to work with 0.5X instead of X/2... but that isn't (yet) encouraged. We usually can't take off for it though. MANY students go from calculator heavy math classes in high school to freaking out about not being able to use calculators in college. My guy told me he was GLAD he learned math without the calculator (as well as with it, but not dependent upon it) as he didn't have that freaking out period many of his peers did. And this is middle son - the guy at a highly selective college. It isn't just our high school teaching calculator dependence. His peers tended to come from good private and public schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Based on Faith Academy Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 My son doesn't use calculators for his math unless it is a specific problem that wants him to use one, which has only been a couple times. I will probably have him use them every once in awhile over the next two years just to make sure he knows how to use them for problems that can be very in depth. I don't want him getting to college and having one of his professors require them for certain problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Different books seem to do some stuff differently (which drives me bonkers). I'd think by Algebra 2 a person would know stuff like that without much thought so I wouldn't consider it a big deal either which way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.