Why should an adult learn fractions?

Question

I have a student that keeps asking me why she must learn fractions. She is 47 and feels at this stage in her life they are useless other thant the obvious reasons such as cooking. I need some creative ideas on how to explain to her that fractions are useful. Thank you

Answer 1

Shopping discounts. You need it to properly understand discounts when shopping.

I'm sure she shops for cooking supplies, among other things.

Do the 4 cans for $1 problem. Buy 2, get 1 free. Etc.

Answer 2

You are a very interesting person. Your grammer is very good, so you are apparently an intelligent person with just one little failing. If you live in an area that has a community college, or even night classes at the local high school for adults, you might start there. You could even drop by the local elementary school, talk to the principal and explain your problem Perhaps a teacher might tutor you after classes. That would be the best solution. Good luck finding some help. I would love to have the opportunity to do something like that.

Answer 3

Fractions come into play every day, and if you have basic math skills you will be able to use them. For example, suppose you want to go in with some friends to buy a boat. You were going split up the price based on how often you planned to use it. There are 4 of you that are going to split the price, but you plan on using it twice as much as the others. How would you work out your fair share if you didn't know fractions.

Answer 4

It's funny that I saw this question, because I am doing fractions right now with my 4th graders. I tell them that it is useful if you are following someone's instructions. If I tell them to write three-quarters of a page, then they need to know what that means. What if they are driving later in life and someone tells them to go a quarter of a mile and then turn. How will they know where to go? They need it for figuring out time, money, food portions, and splitting things equally amongst others. You also need fractions to figure out percentages, so this can help at a sale at a store. You know the whole, "Is over Of equals % over 100." Maybe relate it to decimals and explain that you need to understand one to know the other. They are related. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Ask her how much 4/5th of a dollar is. Money is always near and dear to a woman's heart so this should help to get your point across. Of course the answer is 80 cents then there's the need to know how much bleach to use in the washing machine when you're doing your laundry. Come on, you're the teacher, you should know these things. I was a music major in college and we had to deal with fractions all the time when it comes to time signatures for any given piece of music.

Answer 6

Does she not shop the sales? How can she figure out the percent off if she doesnt know fractions? (This works for decimals too).

Answer 7

Learning anything develops pathways in your brain. The more pathways you have developed the better chance of recovery you will have from a stroke and the less dementia you will experience as you age.

Answer 8

figuring out taxes and discounts in stores...

Answer 9

try this