ERIC Number: EJ971018
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Nov
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0746-8342
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Pumping Lemma for Invalid Reductions of Fractions
Fried, Michael N.; Goldberg, Mayer
College Mathematics Journal, v41 n5 p357-364 Nov 2010
Children often incorrectly reduce fractions by canceling common digits instead of common factors. There are cases, however, in which this incorrect method leads to correct results. Instances, such as 16/64 and 19/95, are well-known. In this paper, we consider such "weird fractions" and show how examples of them can be multiplied "ad infinitum" and lead to interesting questions.
Descriptors: Educational Technology, Mathematics Education, Learning Strategies, Mathematics, Computer Uses in Education, Teaching Methods, Children, College Mathematics, Elementary School Mathematics, Preservice Teacher Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A