8

Nix Cross Multiply (solving proportions)

Because students confuse cross (diagonal) with across (horizontal) multiplication, and/or believe it can be used everywhere (such as in multiplication of fractions). 3 13 3 Correct multiplication of fractions: 1 2 4 = 24 = 8 Common error: 1 2
14 3 4 = 23 = 4 6

This student tries to multiply fractions using cross multiplication:

http://mathmistakes.org/?p=476 More importantly, youre not magically allowed to multiply two sides of an equation by different numbers to get an equivalent equation. This process doesnt make sense to students, so they are memorizing a procedure, not understanding a method. Which means that when they forget a step, they guess. This student knows the procedure involves some operation on diagonal terms but mistakenly uses addition instead of multiplication.

http://mathmistakes.org/?p=1320

Fix: Instruct solving all equations (including proportions, they arent special!) by opposite operations. Opposite Operations: x 3 3 5 = 10 10 5

= 10

x 10 10

3 5 =x

Encourage students to look for shortcuts such as common denominator, common numerator or scale factor. Let students extrapolate. Once students know when and why a shortcut works, skipping a few steps is okay, but students must know why their shortcut is legal algebra. Shortcuts:

3 5 = 3 5 = 4 8 =

x 5 x=3 x 32 10 52 x 10 x=5

[no work required, think about what it means to be equal]

x 10 x=6

[multiply a fraction by 1 and its equivalent] [students are quick to recognize but any multiplicative relationship between numerator and denominator will have to be the same in both fractions]

5 3 =

10 3 x 5

x 10 10

3 5 = 10

[take the reciprocal of both sides of the equation to get the variable into the numerator]

x 10 10

3 5 =x