WELCOME TO THIS PAGE INTENDED FOR STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE REGISTERED FOR THE MODULE QSF 131:
WORKING WITH FRACTIONS : WITH AND WITHOUT CALCULATOR
Consider the following simple problem on mixed fractions:
Simplify: 
With your SHARP EL-531WH calculator, there are two methods:
METHOD 1 (WITH THE FRACTION KEY)
4r1r16+3r3r10-5r7r8=1r39r80=
METHOD 2 ( WITH BRACKETS)
(4+1r16) + (3+3r10) –
(5+7r8) = 3r39r80 =
IMPORTANT: REMEMBER TO OPEN AND CLOSE BRACKETS AFTER EVERY MIXED FRACTION!!!!
Without calculator, there are two methods:
METHOD 1 (WORKING WITH PROPER FRACTIONS)
(4+3-5) + (
) = 2 + 
= 2 + 
= 1 + 
= 
METHOD 2: (WORKING WITH IMPROPER FRACTIONS)
Convert all MIXED FRACTIONS to IMPROPER FRACTIONS:
NOTE:
1.
REMEMBER 
2. Use your fraction key on your calculator to convert an improper fraction to a mixed fraction, i.e. 65r16 = 1r39r80.
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