Texas Instruments TI-15 Teachers Manual page 15

Fraction Forms
Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions
To focus students' attention on the patterns in their
fractions and the relationship of these patterns to the
denominators, ask questions such as:
What patterns do you see in your results?
Example:
When a denominator of 4 is used in the
column, every fourth number is a whole number.
How do the results of using a denominator of 2
compare with the results of using a
denominator of 4?
How does a denominator of 5 compare to a
denominator of 10?
Which other denominators seem to be related?
Example:
The pattern using a divisor of 6 is related to the
patterns for 2 and 3.)
What pattern do you see in the related
denominators?
Example:
They are related as factors and multiples.
Continuing the Investigation
Have students brainstorm situations in which they
would prefer to use each of the combinations of
settings of fraction forms.
Example:
When working with probabilities that may
need to be added, using the
would keep the denominators of the
probabilities all the same and make mental
addition easier.
In a situation where estimated results are
close enough, using the
would make it easier to see quickly the whole
number component of the result and whether
the additional fraction part was more or less
than ½.
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TI-15: A Guide for Teachers
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