Addition or subtraction of fractions.

For this discussion , write a word problem that requires either addition or subtraction of fractions. Then, provide a strategy you think students may use in solving the problem. Describe the strategy and how this strategy would help students solve the word problem.

find the cost of your paper

Sample Answer

 

 

Word Problem: Baking Cookies!

Sarah is baking cookies for a party. She needs 2 1/3 cups of flour for the recipe. She already has 3/4 cup of flour in her pantry. How much more flour does she need to buy?

Strategy: Visualizing and Separating

This problem involves subtraction of fractions. Here’s a strategy students can use to solve it:

  1. Imagine the flour: Visualize 2 1/3 cups of flour as two wholes and one third of another whole. Imagine the 3/4 cup of flour Sarah already has.
  2. Separate and subtract: Think about how much flour Sarah needs to add to reach the recipe’s requirement. She can start by taking away the 3/4 cup she already has from the 2 wholes (representing 2 cups).

Full Answer Section

 

 

 

  1. Separate and subtract: Think about how much flour Sarah needs to add to reach the recipe’s requirement. She can start by taking away the 3/4 cup she already has from the 2 wholes (representing 2 cups).
  2. Convert and subtract: Since the wholes and the flour she has are in different units (whole cups vs. fractions of a cup), convert one to match the other. She can convert the 2 whole cups to sixths (2 x 3/3 = 6/3). Now, she can subtract the fractions: 6/3 – 3/4.
  3. Simplify the answer: After subtracting, she might get 15/12. Simplifying this fraction gives her the final answer: 5/4 cups.

How this strategy helps:

  • Visualizing the quantities makes the problem more concrete and easier to understand.
  • Separating and subtracting breaks the problem down into smaller, more manageable steps.
  • Converting units ensures the fractions are comparable before performing the subtraction.
  • Simplifying the answer keeps the solution clear and easy to interpret.

By following these steps, students can effectively solve the word problem and gain a better understanding of adding and subtracting fractions.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer