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Name: Unknown
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1993
Question:
Is there a great hands on way to explain division of fractions to sixth graders without the age old, "it's not for you to reason why, just invert and multiply?"


Replies:
Division is usually defined as multiplication by reciprocals or inverses. In this case, starting with (m/n)/(p/q), multiply the numerator and denominator by q/p and simplify the denominator to 1 and you have proved it. I do not know how this is great or hands on, but it is an idea.

Tom Elsner


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