Developmental Mathematics Revival!

Fractions Lament

I am a fraction, and woe is me. Nobody seems to understand my talents. People have a prejudice against fractions, you know. [I hesitate to say that there is ratial profiling, but it’s not pretty.]

People on the street say they hate me, without ever bothering to really look at me. Is it my fault that they only remember their own difficulties with mechanics and procedures to generate answers involving things that resemble me? If only they would look at the beauty and usefulness of fractions like me … they would find that fractions can be their friend. [Look for me on Facebook!] Fractions are much better than those elitist snobs, the integers; integers think that they are the greatest thing since sliced bread … but let me tell you that there are an infinite number of fractions for every integer. The world could live without integers, but take away fractions and people would be back in their caves — without their iPads and Blackberry.

Then there are the math teachers! You would think that math teachers would be enthusiastic about showing people how great fractions can be. What do they do instead? They tell students that you have to learn about greatest common factors and least common multiples, before you can ‘work’ with fractions. Don’t they know that the GCF and the LCM are part of the integer conspiracy? They make a big deal of mixed numbers; hey, if I want to hang around with an integer I will let you know — until then, I am happy being a fraction, thank you very much. And ‘reducing’ fractions? You (teachers) should talk; have you looked in the mirror lately? I don’t think I am the one that needs reducing.

I am a fraction. I can show much more than how many cups of flour you need to make 3/4 of a recipe; that’s boring stuff. The good stuff is when a fraction lets you compare the rate of different groups of students to make sure that they are all getting the benefit of passing that math class. A fraction lets you communicate about a rate. [Did I tell you that my first cousin Marcel is a second derivative? He is one beautiful fraction!] That reminds me … fractions make it pretty easy to convert one measurement to different units; you’ve just got to line up the units to get rid of versus the ones you need in the answer. A fraction can also tell you what the chances are for having 2 boys and 2 girls in that family you want; that’s a beautiful thing by itself, isn’t it?

I am a fraction. Don’t show me that cute picture with 8 parts and 5 shaded; even if I was 5/8 I would not like that picture. Sure, I can show how many parts are there, just like certain integers can show how many pieces of candy are in the bag. How would you like it if somebody showed a stick figure and said “this is Jennifer”? You are more than a stick figure; I am much more than parts shaded in a drawing.

I am a fraction. It’s time you saw me, and understand me. I can’t make you love me, or even respect me. However, I promise that I will do my part if you give me a chance/

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Content of developmental math courses, humor | Jack Rotman | May 11, 2012 1:33 pm

2 Comments

By Connie Buller, May 13, 2016 @ 11:36 am

Hello, Jack,
Facebook helped me think of you today–hope you are doing well. I got a chuckle then and did now from your “fraction rant”.
I am enjoying retirement, and have gotten hooked on FindaGrave, where I am “MrsB”
Best wishes,
Connie
By Jack Rotman, May 13, 2016 @ 11:46 am

Thanks, Connie. Glad you enjoyed the fraction’s lament; I occasionally try to come up with another rant!
Glad you’re enjoying retirement — that’s the way to do it!