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WHY the Butterfly Method When Adding and Subtracting Fractions?


This post is also found at: http://www.cognitivecardiowithmsmm.com/blog/why-the-butterfly-method-when-adding-and-subtracting-fractions







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  1. Controlling My ChaosJuly 24, 2016 at 9:27 PM

    I agree with you 100%. This has been a big problem for us in the middle school when students come in from elementary.

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    1. EJuly 28, 2016 at 8:39 AM

      So glad to hear it isn't just me! Thanks for sharing!

      Delete
  2. UnknownJuly 25, 2016 at 3:54 PM

    Agree!!! When I read the title of your post...I thought you were going to support the butterfly method. So glad you are not an advocate!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EJuly 28, 2016 at 8:40 AM

      No, definitely not an advocate! Glad to hear that others agree:-)

      Delete
  3. MelMiniMarch 5, 2017 at 2:48 PM

    Thank you! I am a high school teacher and the kids want to "butterfly" every fraction they see which doesn't work when they need to get a common denominator with several fractions that now have variables mixed in. They really need to know what a common denominator is and how to find one. I really didn't understand what the kids were trying to do with the "butterflys" because even they couldn't remember the whole thing to show me what they had been taught.

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