Brie-Anna's Guide to Satsy FDP
Throughout history, there have been inspirational people who have fought for the right of others. In maths, fractions sometimes are feared and sometimes they even are ignored. I am here to celebrate fractions. The video below from Maths Snacks also stands up for fractions...
(Please note, it is an American video; in the UK , one fourth is called a quarter!)
Before we delve into the links between fractions, decimals and percentages, if you are a little less confident, you might want to refresh your knowledge using the following great pages on my super-duper whizzy website.
To understand the links between fractions, decimals and percentages, we simply need to understand HOW they link.
Let’s start with decimals… or to give them their full name, decimal fractions! Yes, decimals are fractions; the only difference is that they have limited denominators - tenths, hundredths, thousands etc.
Let's consider...
The same approach can help us to understand percentages (per cent-age)
A century = 100 years or 100 runs (in the game of cricket). Cricket confuses me - why are they always talking about ducks? I've never seen one playing the game!
A centurion was a Roman leader in charge of 100 soldiers (although FUN FACT: for much of the Roman period it was actually 80 men!)
In the United States, one dollar = 100 cent
therefore...
percentage = out of 100
Once we understand this, we know that if we can convert a fraction to tenths or hundredths, we can express them as decimals (decimal fractions), and if the fraction can have a denominator of 100, it can easily be written as a percentage.
Next step...
Do you know the equivalences between fractions, decimals and percentages as rapid recall? If you don't, use the link below and then try some of the activities I have suggested in that section. You'll be an expert in no time with a little of my helpful ideas!
ACTIVITY TIME
In Fraction Lines from Transum, there are a range of levels, which require you to order a selection of fractions; there is even a level with decimal fractions. Make sure you start with the smallest!
Monster Stroll Fractions is great if you want to compare fractions and decimals but make sure that you read the symbols correctly!
Use your range of skills to compare the fractions and decimals in Fraction Order, which once again has a range of levels to attempt. This time, however, make sure that you put the largest values at the head of the snake!
Fraction Dissect is a wonderful puzzle-style activity. Solving challenges in one method is tricky enough but having to find two different methods add a new level of of fun!
Top Tip: The lines you use to dissect the shapes do not necessarily need to be horizontal or vertical.
Thankfully, there are mathematicians who have fought for the right for fractions to be on number lines. In Number Line Hunt, simply place the fractions in their rightful place. In this game, it is necessary to add a suitable scale onto the number line as the fractions need to be added precisely - no estimating allowed! The level of challenge increases with each new question so you will need to draw upon all of your understanding of fractions.
Details to follow soon...ish
What is the best feature of the game? The 80's vibes music! Oh, it also is a great game for practising your ability to calculate fractions of amounts. With lots of levels and options, you can adapt Crystal Crash to meet your own mathematical skills.
This matching activity from Maths Frame is a great resource with a wide range of levels of challenge to suit all learners. I particularly love the visual representations, but also that moment when you insert the jigsaw in the correct position. So satisfying!
Time to pick teams! Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!
In Decention Jr. match the equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages to ensure that the aliens are all in the correct teams.
Let's play Bin-Bing-Bingo! This has to be one of the best names ever for a maths game. It is a fabulous activity to help you practice finding percentages of quantities, and with three levels of challenge – each focusing on different aspects of the same skill – it will suit so mamy varied mathematicians, including mousématicians!
If you are familiar with Arithmagons, I’m sure you will be understand what to do with Transum's Fractionagons. If you aren't, I imagine that you soon will be!
First came the factor bugs and now there are Percentage Spiders. I love this activity as it enables you to make links between percentages. Start for the easy percentages of 10%, 1% and 50% and then make links! Unfortunately, the activity does not allow you to input your answers but it still is a really useful tool that can help you to develop the ability to link ideas. What a helpful spider!
I love colouring in but sometimes it takes a long time and if you make a mistake, it is hard to fix it. Shade It Percents from mathnook.com to the rescue.
Top Tip: Be sure to recognise how many parts the shape has before shading.
(Read in robotic voice) Mathsbot to the rescue! This great activity is a wonderful tool to help practise finding percentages.
(turn off robotic voice) Once you complete several of the tables, you will soon realise how easy it is to work backwards and how to make simple links between different percentages. Unfortunately, you can’t type in your answers; fortunately, you can check them and they only ever use a maximum of one decimal place linked to halving - another great skill mastered!
It's time for another game! Yeah! Perhaps you have played something similar to Boxed In Fractions from Transum, such as Boxed In Numbers (also from Transum), which involves adding positive and negative numbers. Well, this version is great too but it might be useful to have pencil and paper available if you are good at the game, especially if you have to add together lots of fractions with different denominators!
TELE TIME!
Kick Sum Maths: Decimal Dance Off 1 and 2
Oh no...we've run out of activities. Don't worry, there are plenty of other places to find great games and challenges. Hit the button below for more fun!