Fractions For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part 1 An Overview of Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
	Chapter 1 What Are Fractions, Decimals, and Percents?
		Taking a First Look at Fractions
			Understanding how fractions work
			Making sense of equivalent fractions
			Understanding improper fractions
			Seeing how improper fractions and mixed numbers relate
		Seeing Why Decimals Are So User-Friendly
			Understanding decimals that have one decimal place
			Understanding decimals that have two decimal places
			Understanding fraction-decimal equivalence
		Putting Percents into Perspective
			Making sense of percents
			Converting percents to decimals and fractions
				Converting percents to decimals, and vice versa
				Converting percents to fractions, and the reverse
	Chapter 2 Boosting Basic Skills
		Knowing Basic Math Words
			Knowing a number from a numeral
			Getting your digits sorted
			Finding values in numbers
			Counting on integers
			Examining mathematical operations
			Talking the talk for the basic four operations
		Knowing the Basics of Number Sets
			Describing sets of numbers
			Integers
			Rational numbers
			Irrational numbers
			Real numbers
		Reviewing Place Value in Whole Numbers
			Putting values in their place
			Looking at leading and placeholding zeros
		Making Sense of Integer Division
			Getting a remainder with division
			Following the cycle of remainders
		Answers to Practice Questions
	Chapter 3 Understanding Factors and Multiples
		Understanding Divisibility
			Making sense of divisibility
			Knowing some divisibility tricks
				Counting zeros: Divisibility by 10, 100, 1,000, and so forth
				Looking at the last digit: Divisibility by 5 and 2
				Adding up the digits: Divisibility by 3 and 9
				Adding alternating digits: Divisibility by 11
				Subtracting out the big numbers: Divisibility by 4 and 8
				Combining rules: Divisibility by 6, 12, 15, and 18
		Finding Factors and Multiples
			Identifying factors
				Finding the factor pairs of a number
				Identifying prime numbers
				Breaking a number into its unique prime factorization
			Making sense of multiples
			Relating factors and multiples
		Going Big with the Greatest Common Factor
			Finding common factors
			Identifying the GCF
			Tricks to help you find the GCF
		Playing Small with the Least Common Multiple
			Finding the LCM
			Tricks for calculating the LCM
		Answers to Practice Questions
Part 2 Fractions
	Chapter 4 Figuring Fractions
		Visualizing Fractions
			Using divided circles to represent parts of the whole
			Working with fractions on the number line
		Understanding Basic Fraction Terminology
			Numerators and denominators
			Proper and improper fractions
			Representing whole numbers as fractions
			Understanding why a zero denominator is undefined
			Fractions and their reciprocals
		Understanding Equivalent Fractions
			Using models to understand equivalent fractions
				Representing equivalent fractions with circles
				Identifying equivalent fractions on the number line
			Changing a fraction to an equivalent form
				Simplifying fractions
				Increasing the terms of a fraction
				Cross-multiplying to find a common denominator
				Finding the common denominator of more than two fractions
		Working with Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers
			Figuring out improper fractions
				Representing improper fractions with circles
				Viewing improper fractions on the number line
			Mixing it up with mixed numbers
				Running circles around mixed numbers
				Putting mixed numbers in their place on the number line
			Changing mixed numbers to improper fractions by using Popcorn
			Changing improper fractions to mixed numbers
				Working with smaller numerator/ denominator discrepancies
				Working with larger numerator/ denominator discrepancies
		Comparing Fractions’ Values
			Comparing fractions that have the same denominator
			Comparing fractions by finding a common denominator
				Increasing the terms of a fraction to compare fractions
				Cross-multiplying to compare two fractions
				Comparing more than two fractions
		Answers to Practice Questions
	Chapter 5 Adding and Subtracting Fractions
		Adding and Subtracting Fractions that Have a Common Denominator
			Adding fractions that have a common denominator
				Adding a pair of fractions
				Adding more than two fractions
				Simplifying your answer
				Converting your answer to a mixed number
				Simplifying and converting to a mixed number
			Subtracting fractions that have a common denominator
				Subtracting one fraction from another
				Simplifying your answer
				Getting a negative result
				Simplifying negative fractions
			Adding and subtracting three or more fractions
		Adding and Subtracting Fractions that Have Different Denominators
			Adding and subtracting two fractions by increasing terms
				Adding a pair of fractions by increasing one denominator
				Subtracting a pair of fractions by increasing one denominator
				Putting fractions in proper form after adding or subtracting
			Adding and subtracting two fractions by cross-multiplying
				Adding fractions by cross-multiplying
				Subtracting fractions by cross-multiplying
		Solving Bigger Problems That Have Different Denominators
			Breaking a big problem into steps
			Finding a common denominator for more than two fractions
		Answers to Practice Questions
	Chapter 6 Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
		Multiplying Fractions
			Multiplying a pair of fractions
			Multiplying more than two fractions
			Canceling factors to make multiplication easier
				Knowing how to cancel factors
				Seeing why canceling factors works
		Dividing Fractions
			Using Keep-Change-Flip to turn division into multiplication
			Canceling factors after Keep-Change-Flip
			Converting results of division from improper fractions to mixed numbers
		Answers to Practice Questions
	Chapter 7 Working with Mixed Numbers
		Adding Mixed Numbers
			Adding mixed numbers that have a common denominator
				Adding a pair of mixed numbers
				Simplifying your answer after adding mixed numbers
			Adding a pair of mixed numbers that have different denominators
				Adding a pair of mixed numbers by increasing the terms of one fraction
				Adding a pair of mixed numbers by cross-multiplying
			Adding a pair of mixed numbers when carrying is required
				Adding with carrying when mixed numbers have the same denominator
				Adding with carrying when mixed numbers have different denominators
		Subtracting Mixed Numbers
			Subtracting mixed numbers that have a common denominator
				Subtracting mixed numbers
				Simplifying your answer after subtracting mixed numbers
			Subtracting a pair of mixed numbers that have different denominators
				Subtracting mixed numbers by increasing the terms of one fraction
				Subtracting mixed numbers by cross-multiplication
			Subtracting mixed numbers when borrowing is required
				Subtracting with borrowing when mixed numbers have the same denominator
				Subtracting with borrowing when mixed numbers have different denominators
		Multiplying Mixed Numbers
			Multiplying a pair of mixed numbers
			Canceling factors to make multiplying mixed numbers easier
		Dividing Mixed Numbers
			Dividing a pair of mixed numbers
			Canceling factors to make dividing mixed numbers easier
		Answers to Practice Questions
	Chapter 8 Word Problems with Fractions
		Solving Word Problems by Adding and Subtracting Fractions
			Putting the pieces together: Adding fractions
			Finding the difference: Subtracting fractions
			Figuring out what’s left over
		Multiplying Fractions to Solve Word Problems
			Multiplying a fraction by a whole number
			Multiplying a pair of fractions
			Using multiplication to translate the word of
			Handling problems that have multiple steps, including multiplication
		Solving Word Problems by Dividing Fractions
			Dividing a fraction by a whole number
			Dividing a fraction by a fraction
		Solving Word Problems by Using Ratios
			Ratios that have two values
			Ratios that have more than two values
			Ratios that include the total value
		Using Proportional Equations to Solve Word Problems
			Building proportional equations
			Using the total value in a proportional equation
		Answers to Practice Questions
Part 3 Decimals
	Chapter 9 Deciphering Decimals
		Making Cents of Decimals by Using Money
		Understanding Decimals by Using Visual Aids
			Seeing decimals as divided circles
			Working with decimals on the number line
		Seeing the Value in Decimal Place Value
		Multiplying and Dividing by Moving the Decimal Point
			Multiplying decimals by 10, 100, 1,000, and beyond
			Dividing decimals by 10, 100, 1,000, and more
		Converting Between Decimals and Fractions
			Working with common decimal-fraction conversions
			Changing decimals less than 1 to fractions
			Changing decimals greater than 1 to fractions
			Changing a fraction to a terminating decimal
			Changing a fraction to a repeating decimal
		Answers to Practice Questions
	Chapter 10 Applying the Basic Four Operations to Decimals
		Adding Decimals
		Subtracting Decimals
		Multiplying Decimals
		Dividing Decimals
			Adding trailing zeros when needed
			Dealing with repeating decimal quotients
		Answers to Practice Questions
	Chapter 11 Word Problems with Decimals
		Solving Word Problems by Adding and Subtracting Decimals
			Adding things up with decimals
			Using decimals to find the difference
			Calculating what’s left over with decimals
			Combining addition and subtraction to solve decimal word problems
		Multiplying Decimals to Solve Word Problems
			Multiplying by 10 and powers of 10
			Multiplying by other numbers
			Multiplying decimals to find area
			Solving multi-step word problems that involve decimal multiplication
		Solving Word Problems that Involve Decimal Division
			Dividing by 10 and powers of 10
			Dividing by other numbers
			Dividing decimals by other decimals
			Dividing decimals to solve area problems
			Solving multi-step word problems that involve decimal division
		Answers to Practice Questions
Part 4 Percents
	Chapter 12 Probing Percents
		Understanding Percentages
		Calculating Common Percents in Your Head
			Calculating 100%, 200%, and 50%
			Calculating 10%, 20%, and 5%
			Calculating 25% and 75%
		Switching Around Numbers to Calculate Percents
		Changing Percents to Decimals, and Vice Versa
			Converting decimals to percents
			Converting percents to decimals
		Converting Between Percents and Fractions
			Changing fractions to percents
			Changing percents to fractions
		Answers to Practice Questions
	Chapter 13 Solving Percentage Problems
		Calculating Percents
		Meeting Three Types of Percentage Problems
		Solving Percentage Problems by Building Equations
			Using an equation to find the starting number
			Using an equation to find the percentage value
		Answers to Practice Questions
	Chapter 14 Word Problems with Percents
		Solving Straightforward Percentage Word Problems
		Solving More Difficult Percentage Word Problems
			Finding the starting value
			Calculating the percentage value
		Working Simple Problems That Involve Percent Increase and Decrease
			Calculating percent increase
			Calculating percent decrease
		Solving Tricky Percent Increase and Decrease Word Problems
			Finding the starting value
			Finding the percentage value
		Answers to Practice Questions
Part 5 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 15 Ten Important Points for Working with Fractions
		Simplifying Fractions
		Increasing the Terms of Fractions
		Changing Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
		Knowing When to Find a Common Denominator
		Knowing When You Don’t Need a Common Denominator
		Canceling Factors Before Multiplying Fractions
		Using Keep-Change-Flip Only When Dividing Fractions
		Using Keep-Change-Flip Before Canceling Factors
		When to Change Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
		When Not to Change Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
	Chapter 16 Ten Real-World Uses for Fractions
		Cooking and Baking
		Construction and Building
		Money and Finance
		Sports
		Telling Time
		Music and Visual Art
		Gambling
		Nursing and Medicine
		Health and Fitness
		Travel and Fuel Efficiency
Index
EULA