Background Tutorials

• Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark fraction such as 1/2. Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.

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    How Do You Find a Common Denominator and a Least Common Denominator?

    This tutorial gives you some practice finding a common denominator and the least common denominator of three fractions. There's only one least common denominator, but there are many common denominators. This tutorial gives you one. Can you find another?

• Understand a multiple of a/b as a multiple of 1/b, and use this understanding to multiply a fraction by a whole number.

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    How Do You Multiply a Whole Number by a Fraction?

    Multiplying a whole number and a fraction can be confusing, but this tutorial helps to sort things out. Check it out!

• Interpret statements of inequality as statements about the relative position of two numbers on a number line diagram.

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    What's an Inequality?

    Inequalities come up all the time when you're working algebra problems. In this tutorial you'll learn what an inequality is, and you'll see all the common inequality symbols that you're likely to see :)

• Understand p + q as the number located a distance |q| from p, in the positive or negative direction depending on whether q is positive or negative. Show that a number and its opposite have a sum of 0 (are additive inverses). Interpret sums of rational numbers by describing real-world contexts.

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    How Do You Add a Negative Number to a Positive Number?

    How do you combine a positive and a negative number? This tutorial shows you how. You even get to see it explained with a number line!