You might be sitting there, struggling with FRACTIONS.
The question on the mind of many students, and I might add parents,
is why do I need fractions anyway? Is it really that important? Can't
I just leave this part out and continue to algebra? Just pretend it
doesn't exist.
Sad to say, but I'm afraid not. Fractions are a very important part
of math. Just think of how many times a day you have to assess a situation,
divide up a workload, drive a car or even plan a meal.
When you work you have to be able to give clear concise instructions.
If you are planning to become an architect, medical doctor or any
position in a technical field, you will need certain skills like fractions
to be able to do a precise calculation. Can you imagine if the doctor
or specialist cut a centimeter too far and ended up killing or mutilating
his patient? The lives of people are dependent upon exact calculations.
Think of a house without a foundation. It will be built on the sand
or rubble and when the storms come, your house will be wet and damp.
The floor will be muddy and you will most probably get very sick,
and at some point your house will collapse.
Fractions are like that foundation. It's a much needed part to keep
up the walls later on. Without the knowledge of fractions you will
not be able to do algebra. Each part of math is building on the previous
part.
Tests consist of a huge part of fractions and even in real life you
use them. When dividing a pizza or meal into squares or when you want
to divide up a space. Whatever the need for division, without the
knowledge of fractions you won't be able to do it.
When going to college later on, you will need good grades, and well
to be honest, your grades during school years are dependant upon your
ability to do fractions.
You see, just like fractions is the foundation, in later life your
house will need strong walls. Algebra is those walls that will keep
up the roof. So if your math house wants to have a good roof later
on, you need to be good in algebra, and to be good in algebra you
need to be able to understand fractions.
If you desire to excel in any study course that requires math, you
need to have those things in a solid and good structure, with a good
understanding of how to do them.
Think of yourself as an architect. You are building a house, and
you are doing it one part at a time. You have to start with the foundation.
How will you do it? By dividing up the workload and taking it one
step at a time. Don't move forward until you understand it and can
do it with confidence.
See that house every time you struggle with fractions, and every
time you manage to understand a part or problem, your house will be
built a little bit further.
It all comes down to understanding of the subject. This applies to
every area of your life, if you take the time to understand something
you will be able to do it with confidence and it will become easy.
Whatever part of fractions you are struggling with, take the vision
you have for the future and make yourself excited about it