To ask you to PLEASE help me with DDs maths?

[ICameOnTheJitney]

I am so afraid of maths ....I was terrible at is as a kid and my knowledge stops at multiplication thanks to an evil teacher who bullied me and also a lack of natural ability.

DD is 9 and struggling a bit....she's getting anxious about it all and I plan to speak to her teacher to see if some extra support can be offered.

In the meantime...DD is doing some MyMaths and doesn't know how to work the following out.

The sum is 8 x 3 over 5....the 3 over 5 is written with a three on top of a 5 with a line between...I can't do that on my keyboard.

I just can't work it out. DD has some idea but my support is shit...please explain it to me Veeeeeeery slowly?

It means 8x3 divided by 5 so use a / on the keyboard. The 3/5 is a fraction. The following are all correct answers depending on how it should be shown;

24/5
4 and 4/5
4.8

Hope this helps!

When my DS used to go on MyMaths to do his homework and didn't know the answer, couldn't work it out or whatever then I would tell him to leave it blank to the teacher knows he couldn't do it.

If your DD has some idea let her try and see how she gets on.

I would help but I have no idea either. DS had parallel lines the other day - we just both sat there staring waiting for inspiration but none came :)

4.8 or 4 and 4/5 (four and 4 fifths) if you want the factional format.

8*3 = 24

24/5 reduces to 4 4/5

Hi ICame, if it is written

8 x 3/5 (as in 3 fifths) then AFAIK you times everything by 8.

so 8 x 3 = 24 making it 24/5.

Then divide 24 by 5 = 4 remainder 1 making it 4 and 1/5. or 4.8

I am prepared to admit that I haven't done any maths like this in many years and therefore may not be 100% correct.

Thank you all very much but can someone explain to me....like I'm 5...how to work it out? THe numbers you've put is like gobbledygook to me sadly. I am very bad at maths.

Meant 4 and 4/5!!

See I said I was rusty!

24 divided by 5 is 4 remainder 4!

I need a coffee!

Find multiplying fractions on BBC bite size. I'm certain it will be there somewhere.

Good tutorials for most things are, but it needs flash and won't run on here.

so its 8 multiplied by 3/5?

think of 8 as 8/1 and then multiply the top numbers together and then multiply the bottom numbers together e.g. it will become:

8/1 x 3/5

so 8 x 3 = 24 and
1 x 5 = 5 so you end up with 24/5 which is 24 divided by 5 so can be broken down to

4 4/5

or yes, 4 r4

Ok I'll have a go. You are being asked for 8 times 3 divided by 5.

8 times 3 is 24.

Then divide 24 by 5.
4 times 5 is 20,
and 5 times 5 is 25 so the answer is between 4 and 5.

As 4 times 5 is 20, you take 20 away from 24 to leave you with 4 fifths left over. So the answer is 4 and 4 fifths or 4 and 4/5.

One way to explain it to her would be to find 24 counters eg from a game, or a packet of sweets or small lego bricks.

First put them into three piles of 8 so that she can see 3 lots of 8 is 24. Then put them all together. Now split them into piles of five. You will have 4 complete piles with 4 left over. Hence the 4 and 4/5.

I would suggest that if you don't feel confident explaining it to her then she needs to ask her teacher.

www.coolmath4kids.com/fractions/fractions-14-multiplying-fractions-01.html

www.mathsisfun.com/fractions_multiplication.html

You can also try Utube, but you may have to try several, until you find someone who's style you like.

DD1 swears by CGP books, for ND3 and above, we have never had a KS2 one.

Thank you all! Annie I think I folllow that! Thank you!

KS3

If she's only 9 I would expect the sum to be 8 x three fifths, ie. what is three fifths of 8.

A cake can be cut into 5 slices. You have one portion (but are a bit of a pig) which is equal to 3 slices - so 3/5ths of the cake.

How much cake would you have if you have 8 portions?
8 x 3/5

8 X 3 = 24. You have 24 slices of cake.

But each cake contains 5 slices of cake. So you could make 4 whole cakes, and still have 4 slices left over.

You could write this as 4 and 4/5ths.

Ignore me please - wrong end of stick...

Sandstorm, you would still get the same answer.

Would you be able to afford a private Maths tutor? My Maths is very weak and dh who is the maths whizz is often away with work so to cut all the stress out of our lives I found dd a wonderful tutor. The difference the 1-1 makes is amazing. She is now actually quite bright at Maths, just needed something/one to bring it out. Timid mouse in class so was getting left behind. She does all her Maths homework with the tutor now

Some wonderful online help. The Carol Vorderman maths website was very helpful.

I would not show myself up to even try and answer the question.

Notanother I am looking at getting her one after Christmas...it's £30 a time and that's a chunk out of my budget but I think I'll have to take it on the chin.

My DH is also good at maths and never here!

We pay £25 for an hour a week. Tutor lets us pay weekly so somehow it does not seem as bad as if we had to pay monthly. Or is that just my way of thinking. It feels like its going to be a long commitment but I know it's worth it. The school are unaware of the tutor so are taking full credit for her remarkable turnaround. Having it all explained just to her has just made something click.

Good luck.

The Khan Academy is really good at explaining math. The explanation you are looking for is here www.khanacademy.org/math/arithmetic.
Once you understand the logic, math can be easy and enjoyable.
There is also a Math for dummies book which may help you "Basic Math and Pre-Algebra For Dummies". But the Khan Academy is just great and free.

Please look at classes teaching basic maths to adults. Any adult (and most children) should be able to do these sorts of sums. It would also set a good example to your daughter that maths is very important.