Re: Multiplcation Not Repeated Addition- Explain
Posted by: Juliana on 6/28/09
On 6/28/09, DD wrote:
> Juliana, I see your explanation, but multiplying numbers greater than
> 1 always gives a product (or a sum if using repeated addition) that is
> greater than the two numbers you are multiplying. When multiplying
> numbers less than 1, I think some students will be confused as to why
> you get a product less than the two numbers you are multiplying. That
> might be where the repeated addition doesn't foster true understanding
> of multiplication.
Students already are going to be confused by that. They simply need to
learn that multiplying fractions means doing both multiplication *and*
division -- that a fraction is one way of indicating a division problem.
Anyhow, students surely do understand what half OF something means. If they
can once really get it into their heads that one-half TIMES something is
the same as one-half OF something, they're well on their way.
