Operating Fractions
Number Operations with Fractions KS3 GCSE 13+ Algebra Generalising Substitution

Description/Aim





Practising and generalising operations with fractions. Students are asked to substitute values into partial generalisations for equivalent, adding, multiplying and dividing fractions. They practise the skills in doing so. Students are then asked to search for the limiting conditions of the generalisations and express them as generally as possible.
Teachers Notes - Why? How? What?

Why we like this activity ….

This activity encourages students to change frequently between the general and the particular and distinguish between them. Students become more aware of the frequency with which they generalise and of 'degrees' of generalisation. The activity is accessible on a level of substituting into algebraic expressions and the challenge of 'making the values fit' neccesitates engaging with the notion of general conditions.

How this activity be used ….

It can help to use pairs or threes with this activity and introduce an element of competetion 'Who can come up with the general expression that covers the most cases'. We have followed this the 'find the route' activity that puts some practise questions into an engaging context.

What to expect when using this activity – from our experience

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Extra Notes