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Prealgebra

Introduction to Fractions

PrealgebraIntroduction to Fractions
A photo of several bakers at work on a table in a classroom setting.
Figure 4.1 Bakers combine ingredients to make delicious breads and pastries. (credit: Agustín Ruiz, Flickr)

Chapter Outline

4.1 Visualize Fractions
4.2 Multiply and Divide Fractions
4.3 Multiply and Divide Mixed Numbers and Complex Fractions
4.4 Add and Subtract Fractions with Common Denominators
4.5 Add and Subtract Fractions with Different Denominators
4.6 Add and Subtract Mixed Numbers
4.7 Solve Equations with Fractions

Often in life, whole amounts are not exactly what we need. A baker must use a little more than a cup of milk or part of a teaspoon of sugar. Similarly a carpenter might need less than a foot of wood and a painter might use part of a gallon of paint. In this chapter, we will learn about numbers that describe parts of a whole. These numbers, called fractions, are very useful both in algebra and in everyday life. You will discover that you are already familiar with many examples of fractions!

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