Re: Explaining a common fraction

No, they cannot handle long division, but then I do not ask them to. As I
said, we use a calculator. Also, the question why does division work came
from me, not them. I just felt that teaching them a technique without
explanation (as, I guess, we were all taught in primary) was dishonest.
Incidentally, re primary teaching, I found "This fact (c/d means c divided
by d) must be carefully explained rather than decreed by fiat, as in the
practice of most school textbooks ..." on a California Standards Comparison
at www.mathematicallycorrect.com/k6books.pdf Anyway many thanks for your
responses they are all helping me. Barry AC



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