Fraction – a mathematical expression representing the division of one whole number

by another. Usually written as two numbers separated by a horizontal/diagonal line.

Also used to indicate a part of a whole number/a ratio between two numbers.

Example:

1. Martha spent 4/9 of her allowance on food and shopping. What fraction of
her allowance had she left?

Solution:

1 – 4/9 = 9/9 – 4/9 = 5/9

She had 5/9 of her allowance left.

2. 3/5 of a group of children were girls. If there were 24 girls, how many
children were there in the group?

Solution:

24 girls

3 units = 24

1 unit = 24 ÷3 = 8

5 units = 5 x 8 = 40

Ratio – is a comparison of a number A and a nonzero number B using division. The

ratio of a to B can be written in three ways: (a) Phrase form: “a to b; (b) colon form:
a:b, and (c) fraction form : a/b (or an equivalent decimal).

Example:
 If 2a = 3b = 4c, find A : B : C

Solve:

Let 2a = 3b = 4c = x

So, a = x/2 b= x/3 c= x/4

The LCM of 2, 3 and 4 is 12

Therefore: A : B : C = x/2 x 12 : x/3 x 12 : x/4 x 12

= 6x : 4x : 3x

=6:4:3

Therefore, A : B : C = 6 : 4 : 3

Proportion - if a/b and c/b are two ratios and a/b = c/d, this equality is called a
proportion.

Example:

The ratio of horses to cows in a farm is 4 : 5. How many horses are in the farm
if there are 20 cows?

Solution:

The problem is comparing the number of horses and cows, so the proportion is
horses/cows = horses/cows

4/5 = n/20 (Multiply the means, multiply the extremes, then divide by
5)

5n/5 = 4x20/5

N= 80/5

N = 16

Answer: there are 16 horses in the farm.

Age Problem

Example:

Maria’s age is two years more than twice the age of Pedro. The sum of their
ages is 17. How old is each now?

Solution:

Let : x = age of Pedro

2x + 2 = age of Maria now.

Since the sum of their ages is 47, it follows that;

x + 2x + 2 = 47

3x + 2 = 47

3x = 45

x = 15 years age of Pedro now

2x + 2 = 32 years, age of Maria now.

The average of the ages of John, Paul and Gringo is 23 yrs. If Paul is one year
older than John and Gringo is one year older than Paul, how old is each?

Solution:

John = x

Paul = 1+x

Gringo = 1+1+x

Formula

x+1+x+1+1+x = 23

3x + 3 = 23

3 1

3x + 3 = 69
 3x = 69 – 3

3x = 66

3 3

x = 22 John age

1+x

1 + 22 = 23 Paul’s age

1+1+x

1+1+22 = 24 Gringo’s age

Mixture problem – two objects are to be mixed in certain proportions. Given the
total, we are asked to find how many of each object is present.

Example:

Forty – five pieces of 50 – centavos and 25 – centavo coins amounted to

P15.00. How many coins of each coin are presented?

Solution:

x = number of 50 – centavo coins

Since there are 45 pieces of coins and there are x 50 – centavo coins, there
must be 45 – x = number of 25 – centavo coins.

The total value of the coins in P15.00, hence:

0.50x + 0.25 (45 – x) = 15

0.50x + 11.25 – 0.25x = 15

0.25x = 15 – 11.25

0.25x = 3.75

x = 15 pieces of 50 – centavo coins

45 – x = 30 pieces of 25 – centavo coins.

 Fifty pieces of 50c and 25c coins amounted to P17.50. how many coins of each
kind are there?

Solution:

x = number of 50 c coins

50 – x = number of 25 c coins

0.50 x + 0.25 (50 – x) = 17.50

0.50 x + 12.5 – 0.25 = 17.50

0.50 x + 0.25 x =17.50 – 12.5

0.25 x = 5

x = __5__

0.25

x = 20 pieces of 50 c coins

50 – 20 = 30 pieces of 25 c coins

Geometric Problems

Dealing with linear measure can be handle by linear equations.

Example:

A rectangle has a perimeter of 24 centimeters. If the length of the rectangle is 3

cm. more than twice the width, what are the dimensions of the rectangle?

Solution:

Let:

x = width of the rectangle

2x + 3 = length of the rectangle

 The perimeter of a rectangle is P = 2L + 2W;

24 = 2(2x+3) + 2x or

4x + 6 + 2x = 24

6x + 6 = 24

6x = 24 – 6

6x = 18

x = 18

x = 3 cms. , width of the rectangle

2 (3) + 3 = 9 cms. , length of the rectangle.

The perimeter of a rectangle piece of lot is 280 meters. If the length is 10 meters more
than twice the width, what are the dimensions of the rectangle?

Solution:

Let:

x = with of the rectangle

2x + 10 = length of the rectangle

The perimeter of a rectangle is P = 2L + 2W;

280 = 2(2x+10) + 2x

or

4x + 20 + 2x = 280

6x + 20 = 280

6x = 280 – 20

6x = 260

x = 260

x = 43.33 meters, width of the rectangle

2(43.33) + 10 = 96.66/ 97 meters, length of the rectangle.