Major Objectives of Chapter 6:  Rational Number Operations and Properties

Students will be able to:

o       use manipulatives and ideas of wholes and equal parts to develop and understand the concept of rational number;

o       compare and contrast different equivalent representations of rational numbers and identify which forms are most useful in given situations;

o       use discrete and continuous models to represent the variety of physical situations associated with each rational number operation;

o       use the properties of rational numbers and their operations to develop strategies for comparing, ordering, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing rational numbers;

o       use their understanding of rational numbers and rational number operations to solve problems.

o       Know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions and decimals;

o       know how to use an area model for fraction multiplication,

o       illustrate and explain the use of base-ten blocks for addition or subtraction of decimals,

o       illustrate and explain the use of base-ten blocks for multiplication and division of decimals,

o       illustrate and explain multiplication of fractions using rectangular arrays,

o       illustrate and explain addition and subtraction of fractions using fraction strips,

o       explain the difference between a rational and irrational number and be able to determine whether or not a number is rational or irrational;

o       know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals and be able to determine and explain where the decimal point goes and why it goes there;

o       be able to determine whether one fraction is greater than, less than, or equal to another fraction;

o       use an area model, linear model, and discrete model to represent a fraction;

o       be able to find a fraction that lies between two given fractions;

o       be able to determine whether one decimal is greater than, less than, or equal to another decimal;

o       be able to compare decimals and fractions; and

o       be able to represent a fraction as a decimal or a decimal as a fraction.