F is for Fractions {Blogging through the Alphabet}

Fraction
~a part of a whole or, more generally, any number of equal parts.

Math. I'm talking about math. I should have chosen a different word for this letter but we were just struggling through some fraction work so it seemed fitting. 

I am not a math whiz by any means and algebra is low on my list of favorites. I enjoy math when I can understand it. Fractions have always presented a challenge to me. And simplifying them is torture. 

Here are some sites for fraction "fun" {yes, yes I did just use 'fun' in the same sentence as 'fraction'}. These all pertain to basic fractions: 

• Math Is Fun
• IXL
• AAA Math
• Cool Math 4 Kids
• Khan Academy
• Purple Math
• Visual Fractions
• Fun Brain
• The Math Page
• Sheppard's Software

Now, the fractions we were just struggling with are algebraic fractions. The two areas that I dread most. When there is a problem that looks like this, I start to sweat a little. 

x + 3 x − 2

=

____?____ x2 + x − 6

That's just an example of course. I haven't even attempted to see how to solve that one. I got that from themathpage.com btw. Great site. 

We, my ds and I -lol him more than me, are attempting to get through Life of Fred: Beginning Algebra (LoF). My dd went through it and struggled in a few places as well. Looking through her work has sometimes helped us...not so much with the most recent problems! Apparently she couldn't figure them out either! 

We use The Math Page's algebraic fractions lessons when we get stuck in LoF; it seems to be a lot lately. Khan Academy is helpful sometimes, if you know where to find the right video. That hyperlink will take you to multiplying and simplifying rational expressions; aka: algebraic fractions.  

Here's what that looks like:

Fun, huh? Eh heehee. 

Anyway, that is my F is for ... submission to this week's Blogging through the Alphabet. It's summer time for us though so I don't think we'll be seeing too much of this {thankfully!}. See more F entries at Ben and Me, or search #abcblogging.

Edited to add a great post over at The Canadian Homeschooler: Teach Your Kids About Fractions. There are a lot of links to help with fractions; at least the elementary fractions. But hey, get that down and the rest should follow!