Online Volumes (Book Orders)
1,  Elements of Reason. 1996
1A. Pattern Based Reason  1995
1B. Math Curriculum Notes 1996
2. Three Skills for Algebra  1995
3.
_Why_Slopes_&_More_Math_1995

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Site  Folders
1. Arithmetic Videos  11-2008
2.  Algebra Videos (to appear)
3. Solving Linear Equations  04-2005
4.- Fractions-Rates-Proprtns-Units-2006
5.-Algebra-Odds-&-Ends-HS-level-2001
6.-Euclidean-Geometry/Complex No.s
7.  Analytic Geometry/Functions 2006
8.  Number Theory. 2006-7
9.  Complex Numbers More 2001.  10  Exponents & Radicals Exactly 2008
11. Calculus  2005
12.Real  Analysis 1995
13. Electric Circuits Etc  2007
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Mathematics How TOs & site 
content guides  08- 2008
1. Arithmetic
2. Algebra 
3. More Algebra 
4. Geometry  
5. More Geometry
6. Calculus

       Fraction Webvideos

Arithmetic Videos

Four Groups of Videos follow. 

  1. Primes, How to Recognize Them. Extras include statement and justification of rules for division by 2, 3, 5, 9 and 11, and the calculation of remainders for division by 2, 3, 5, 9 and 11.


  2. Fractions, Operations With. Addition, Multiplication and Reduction (Simplification) using primes, LCM, GCD. Euclid's Algorithm for computing the GCD of a pair of whole numbers provides a method for simplifying fractions, quickly without using prime decomposition of numerators and denominators.


    For quicker results, Start with fraction videos first and cover the others as needed.


  3. Greatest Common Divisors, Calculation using Primes or Euclid Algorithm.


  4. Least Common Multiples, Calculation using Primes or Greatest Common Divisor


Pen and pencil arithmetic skills is a must for algebra and a plus for the use of arithmetic in daily life.

Recognizing Primes

Primes may be used in simplifying expressions involving fractions and square roots. See the calculation of GCDs and LCMs below. 

  1. [Play Video] 5 minutes - A Times Table (10 x 10) and how a number is not prime (composite) if it is in the interior of the table, that is if it is a product of smaller natural numbers. Some where in here is a Definition for Primes. A Natural number is composite if it is not prime.
  2. [Play Video] 9½ minutes - Digit- Based Rules for recognizing divisibility by the divisors 2, 3, 5, 9, 10 and 11 or  calculating the remainders on division by these divisors. These rules follow from  10 = 0 mod 2 or 5, and 10 = 1 mod 3 or 9, and 10 = -1 mod 11Exercise: (1) Use  100 = 2 mod 49 to develop a digit-based rule for division by 49 or 7. (2) Give digit-based rules for division by 2, 3,5, 7, 11 and 13 that apply to the hexadecimal representation of whole numbers.
  3. Square Root Rule: A number N is prime if it is not divisible by all primes p whose square p2 is less than or equal to N.  On the other hand if a number N is not prime, it will be divisible by a prime p with p2 less than N+1. With a calculator, the best bet is check where all primes p < sqrt(N) starting with the smallest.  Here if N = Mq where all primes < p are not divisor of the prime N then all primes < p will not be divisors of M. With the aid of a calculators and rules for divisibility by 2,3, 5, and 11, you can quickly get the prime decomposition of a whole number N.
  4. [Play Video] 10 minutes - Recognizing Primes in the interval to 100 by eliminating all numbers that are multiples of primes < 11 = the first prime with square 112 = 121 > 100. (The Sieve of Erasothenes)

    If a first number N is a product of two factors, the square of the  larger factor will be greater than or equal  to the first number, and the square of the smaller will be less than or equal the first number N. So if the first number N can be factored, there will be a divisor, the smallest factor in a product with square < the first number N. That in turn implies there will be a prime <  the smallest factor which divides N and whose square is  <  N. From the study of logic (the contrapositive of an implication rule), if all primes with square < N do not divide N, N cannot be written as a product of factors - natural numbers smaller than N.
  5. [Play Video] 2½  minutes -  Prime Factorizations (also called decomposition) for numbers in the interval 2 to 15.
  6. [Play Video] 3     minutes - Prime Factorizations  for numbers in the interval 16 to 30.
  7. [Play Video] 4½  minutes - Prime Factorizations for numbers in the interval 31 to 49.
  8. [Play Video] 4     minutes - Prime Factorizations  for numbers in the interval 50 to 66. Note: 51 = 3 x 17 is not prime as stated in video. Oops.
  9. [Play Video] 5½  minutes - Prime Factorizations for numbers in the interval 67 to 82.
    Note: 76 = 2 x 38 = 2 x 2 x 19. Video shows 17 instead of 19. Oops
  10. [Play Video] 5½  minutes -  Prime Factorizations  for numbers in the interval 83 to 100.
    Note: 90 = 6 x 15 = 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 = 2 32 5 Video write 4 x 15 instead of 6 x 15. Oops

Operations with Fractions

Start here if you wish and refer to methods for obtaining  Prime Factorization, GCDs, LCDs as needed.

  1. [Play Video] 3-4 minutes. Equivalent fractions - Lowering and raising terms (the values of numerators and denominators) to obtain equivalent fractions. Simplification involves lowering terms - cancelling common factors or divisors on top and bottom. Addition & subtraction of fractions may involve raising terms to obtain a common denominators. See below.
  2. [Play Video] 2-3 minutes A few examples of Simplifying Fractions - lowering terms by canceling common factors until there are no more common factors, so that the numerator and denominator are relatively prime, that is there prime decompositions have no primes in common.
  3. [Play Video] 2-3 minutes. Multiplying Fractions with  cancellation of  common factors done first (recommended) or not, with more simplification to be done later.
  4. [Play Video] 5 minutes. How to add fractions using common denominators. Here the common dominators is the lowest or least common denominator (LCD) and its given by the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators in the fractions added together.  Here the listing multiples method is used to compute the LCM. The alternative of not using the LCD for the fractions is explored to show what happens when the LCD is not used.
  5. [Play Video] 3 minutes  Another example of how to add fractions with and without the least common denominators with an explanation that not using the LCD (least common denominator)  leads to ratios that can be simplified. So use of LCDs is promoted.
  6. [Play Video] 3 minutes - Comparison of Fractions Size or Magnitude, and more examples of the use of common denominators in addition and subtraction.
  7. [Play Video] 3 minutes - Another example of the listing multiples method to find the LCM and thus the LCD for the sum of two fractions.
  8. [Play Video] 4 minutes - Factorization method to obtain  a common denominator, here the LCM and thus the LCD for the sum of two fractions. See if you can recognize the GCD of the denominators here. It is not mentioned here. In this example,  the LCD is given by a product that does not have to be evaluated explicity due to cancellation of common terms after addition of fractions.
  9. [Play Video] 2 minutes - Fraction Simplification using Prime Decomposition (factorization) to identify common factors for  cancellations.
  10. [Play Video] 5 minutes - Product Simplification using Prime Decomposition by Canceling Common Primes, thus avoiding some denominator and numerator multiplication. An alternative common factors as they appear, more opportunistic, is given and is to be recommended.
  11. [Play Video] 5 minutes - How to use Prime Factorization or Decomposition for LCM and LCD for a pair of denominators, an example.

The simplification, multiplication and addition of Fractions may depend on recognition and cancellation of common factors, prime or not. See how GCDs and LCMs (or LCDs) may be used in the addition and multiplication of fractions.

Greatest Common Divisors

See how to compute greatest common divisors with and without the use of prime factorizations.

  1. [Play Video] 7 minutes. Finding All Divisors of a Natural number from its Prime Factorization/Decomposition
  2. [Play Video] 6 minutes. Computing GCD for pairs of Natural Numbers from their Prime Factorizations /Decompositions)
  3. [Play Video] 2½ minutes Computing GCD  from  Prime Factorizations /Decompositions, another example.
  4. [Play Video] 3 minutes. Computing GCDs using Primes, yet another example.
  5. [Play Video] 6½ minutes. Euclid Algorithm computes GCDs not using Prime Factorization.
  6. [Play Video] 3 minutes. Another Euclid Algorithm GCD example  with result confirmed using Prime Decomposition.
  7. [Play Video] 1½ minutes. Two numbers are relatively prime  when and only when they have GCD =1 when and only when the numbers have no prime divisors in common. Euclid algorithm leads to a quick identification of relatively prime whole numbers in the numerators and denominators of fractions by themselves or products.
    .
  8. [Play Video] 4 minutes. Two Ways to Find the GCD of a pair of numbers. Both lead to the same result.

Euclid's algorithm provides a means to compute the GCD without mentioning prime factorization. The latter is best for computations with large numbers - numbers for which the prime factorization is not immediately obvious. Euclid algorithm can be implemented on calculator.

Least Common Multiples

For a pair of denominators, the greatest common dominator is given by their least common multiple.

  1. [Play Video] 2¼ minutes.  Common Multiples and Least Common Multiples for a par of natural numbers,  finding by listing mutliples of first and second number - the list method.
  2. [Play Video]2¼ minutes.   Least Common Multiple for a pair of Natural numbers from Prime factorizations of each, and then by list method.
  3. [Play Video]1 minute. Least Common Multiple for a pair of Natural numbers by computing the GCD divisor with the aid of Prime Factorization of each.
  4. [Play Video] 4 minutes. Least Common Multiple for a pair of Natural numbers by computing the GCD divisor with the aid of Euclid's Algorithm, 1st Example.
  5. [Play Video] 3 minutes. Least Common Multiple for a pair of Natural numbers by computing the GCD divisor with the aid of Euclid's Algorithm,  2nd Example. Note use of calculator.
 

Home ] Up ]

Fractions, Rates, Units & Proportions

A. Fractions without and then with Units of Measurement

0. Preview/Summary
1 What is a Fraction
2  Fraction Multiplication I
3 Fraction Multiplication II
4 Fraction  Multiplication III
5 Equivalent Fractions
6. Mixed Numbers
7. Fraction  Comparison
8  Fraction Addition I
9. Fraction Addition II
10 Fraction Addition III
11  Fraction Multiplication IV
12  Fraction Division & Reciprocals
13 Compound Fractions
14  Operations with Units I
15 Operations with Units II
16 Operations with Units III
17 Operations Unit IV
18. Operations with Units V
19. Operations with Units VI.
20.  Operations on Units VII

B. Two and Multiple Term Ratios
Forward and Backward Use of Proportionality.  More on Units in calculations or graphing.

A. Two Term Ratios
B. New Fractions/Ratios from Old
C. Triple Term Ratios
(i) Proportionality - 4 kinds + EGS
(ii) Fractions & Proportionality
(iii) Slopes & Proportionality I
(iv) Slopes & Proportionality II
(v) Distance-Time  Proportionality
(vi) Distance-Time Proportionality
(vii) Rates-units-proportionality

Fractions & Operations on Fraction (linear  viewpoint)

Fractions versus
Ratios
- Similarities & Differences

Units in Fraction-Like & monomial-Like 
Calculations


Proportionality Constants (including rates), Units in, Examples of, Four kinds of Proportionality, Forward & Backward Use of Proportionality Equations

Oops: If you see an error in this site area, please report it.

Arithmetic Videos - Real Player Format

Decimal Addition
Methods
Decimal Subtraction Methods
Decimal Multiplication Methods
Decimal Division
Methods


Fractions
Primes
Greatest Common
Divisors

Least Common Multiples

Square Root
Simplification

Flash webvideo replacements for the above videos are or will appear in the Arithmetic Videos folder, asap.

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Caution: Site advice is approximately correct, for some circumstances, not all. Site How-TOs are logically developed, but not tried and tested. That leaves room for thought and refinement..

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