Learning Resources
Outcomes
By the end of this lesson you will be able to answer questions like the ones in the pre-test below.
If you prefer, you can proceed directly to the first page of the lesson without doing the pre-test. To do this simply click on the Lesson button above.
Alternately you can first answer the questions on the pre-test below in your Math 3103 binder. Then refer only to the pages of the lesson that contain instruction on the questions for which you get an incorrect answer or for which you would like some further explanation.
Pre-test
- Try to simplify the following complex fractions mentally:
(a)
(b) 
(c) 
- Simplify:
(a)
(b) 
(c) 
- If a =
and b = 
, evaluate 
By the end of this section you should be able to:
- Apply fraction concepts both mentally and with pencil and paper algorithms including:
- lowest common denominator (LCD)
- equivalent fractions
- reducing to simplest terms
- improper vs. mixed fractions
- factors
- prime factorization to find LCD
- ordering fractions by relative size
- Add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions (both mentally and using pencil and paper), and work with patterns and graphs based on operations with fractions.
- Simplify complex fractions containing rational numbers.
Prerequisites
To be successful in this lesson, it would be helpful to know the following:
- How to find the LCD of two or more fractions.
- How to add and subtract fractions.
- How to multiply and divide fractions.
- How to convert between mixed numbers and improper fractions.