Maths

[Oncewasblueandyellowtwo]

I'm looking for some maths help. I've applied to college as a mature student and have to take a test, one part of the test is numerical.
It is basic, multiplying, division, percentages.I don't understand percentages and need help with this mostly,i can multiply and divide with a calculator and understand it.Does anyone have maths tips?
example: I don't understand 1/3. I think that would have to be 1 out of 3 parts but it can be 1/3 out out of 10 parts, but i have no idea how that is?

Mummmy2017

That's really good, i understand that.
I just seems so, simple.So i'm doubting it... I think i am over complicating this.

HorseRadishFemish

(I too am interested in how feminism impacts on this)

Feminism is the liberation of women and girls, in turn education is also liberating.
I really appreciate everyone's posts, Mummmy i think what you've said may have just clicked into place.

So adding fractions.
Boy eats 1/2 a cake.
Girl eats 1/3 of a cake.
We need to compare.
So to see the amounts we need both cakes to be cut into the same sizes.
2 X 3 = 6.
1/2 gets made 3 times bigger on the top and bottom....
Boy eats 3/6
1/3 gets made 2 times bigger .
Girls eats 2/6
3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6.
So the Boy had the bigger amount and 1/6 of the cake is left.

If it helps, I consider myself good at maths - I'm a computer programmer, I do a certain amount of probability and stats in my day to day job, I enjoyed doing my a-levels and the maths sections of my degree.

I still, every time, have to sit and figure out how to work out percentages on a piece of paper to remind myself how to calculate them.

I do 100/100, 50/100 25/100 so I understand which number needs to go where to work out what the percentage is of say 34/146. It just won't stick in my head.

If you find things like that, you have 2 choices - memorise a formula, or have a way that you can work it out mid-test. For my Uni exams that's exactly what I did - some stuff I just memorised and trusted it worked and some stuff I learned how to figure out from scratch, and just did that in the exam.

Percentages are just fractions of a hundred.

Maths is one of those things that needs to be practised as I think it can be easy to think yes I get that but still not be able to work through questions.

I'd still recommend trying some of the sites listed on here but if you want some worksheets to check you actaully understand and can do common fraction questions -

www.onlinemathlearning.com/math-worksheets.html#Fractions

Do them on-line and it checks the answers for you as well.

www.onlinemathlearning.com/math-worksheets.html#Percents

Can I add....I love this thread!

enjoyingSun

That's a great website, thank you, i'm practicing on it now, the percentage word problems are on the exam, i have some practice tests but they are timed so this is better for studying.

Bit of nice news to share. I got the results and I passed.
I wouldn't have done it without the help from this thread, I really mean that.A little less than 60 percent of people passed so I am delighted.
Thanks so much to everyone for your advice and help.

Brilliant! Congratulations, @Oncewasblueandyellowtwo - that's a fantastic achievement. Well done for all the hard work and - and here's to a successful college career.

(Way back in the mists of prehistory I used to be a lecturer and some of the brightest, most committed students I taught were mature students who'd come in through access courses - they were a joy to teach and to be around, and I'm sure your lecturers will find the same.)

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll do brilliantly.

CaraDune

Thank you. It wasn't an access course it was a aptitude test for a certain college course ( less than 60 percent passed, just wanted to say that again ) I did an access course a few years ago and really enjoyed it but it wasn't the right timing but gave me an idea of what college could be like.

Thank you digbee

I'm so sorry you were struggling with this, and so delighted you passed the test! I hope you have a wonderful time on the college course in question.

Congratulations. I taught mature-age students and the only thing that held them back was lack of confidence in themselves.

What a lovely thread!

Congratulations Oncewasblueandyellowtoo

You are so right when you say Feminism is the liberation of women and girls, in turn education is also liberating.

Well done!