Maths help for parents of children aged 5 to 11
It has needed it for a while and now MathsBlog has a new look. We hope that it helps you with using the site as it was becoming rather cumbersome to use. Stay tuned for more updates as we are working on better ways for you to access the free resources.
If you have any thoughts or comments on the new layout and design please use the comments feature and tell us. You can do this by clicking on the little speech bubble at the top right of the post.
When children begin division they usually write the question with a remainder. However, remainders can be written as fractions, making a more accurate and complete division answer.
For example a remainder of one when dividing by two can be written as one over two or one half. This is no longer a remainder but a part of the answer. So 17 divided by 2 is 8 remainder 1 or 8 and 1/2. Continue reading “Year 4 Maths worksheet: Division with remainders written as fractions”
When children begin division they usually write the question with a remainder. However, remainders can be written as fractions, making a more accurate and complete division answer. This is usually introduced in year 4 and we have an excellent worksheet coming up next week on division with remainders written as fractions.
Another aspect of division is to use decimals rather than remainders and we will also be publishing a page on division by 10. The key to understanding division by 10 is also the key to understanding place value: that is, if a digit moves one place to the right it becomes ten times less. So all you have to do to divide a number by 10 is to move each digit one place to the right – but watch out to include the decimal point if necessary!
It’s getting towards colder weather now and a good time to introduce negative numbers. Children are most likely to come across negative numbers when using a calculator but they are usually taught about them in the context of measuring temperature. Number lines are also very helpful as they show that numbers continue after zero when counting down. We will be publishing a maths worksheet on negative numbers next week.
Year 5 Maths Worksheet: relate fractions and division
Only six questions on this worksheet, but plenty of important concepts. Firstly, that division can be represented as a fraction, and, of course, a fraction can be thought of as a division.
Secondly, an improper fraction (where the top number is larger than the bottom number) can be shown as a mixed number (a whole number and a proper fraction). This can be done by dividing the numerator (top number) by the denominator (bottom number) to find the whole part with the remainder being the numerator of the new fraction. The denominator remains the same.
Whilst most sites have loads of number worksheets you will find few which includes maths across all areas, including symmetry. Why? because they usually take longer to write!
Mirror line, line of symmetry, line symmetry, symmetrical, reflect, reflection, translation, axis of symmetry, reflective symmetry are all terms that children should know by the end of the primary stage.
Also they should be able to test for symmetry using a mirror and by folding.
Children should be able to sketch the reflection of a simple shape in a mirror line where none or only some of the edges of the shape are parallel or perpendicular to the mirror line.
This might seem easy, but actually prove problematic to many children. A small mirror is a great help with this and children are supplied with one in their SAT tests if such a question comes up – and they do seem to be very popular.
Maths Worksheet: Standard written method of addition with 2-digit numbers.
This is the second maths worksheet on addition using the standard method.
(It must be pointed out that usually 2-digit addition should be tackled ‘in your head’. The sum we are doing here can be done by adding 50 to 66, making 116 and then subtracting 2 making 114. However, to practise the written method it is often useful to keep to smaller numbers)
The method is to add the units first, put the units in the answer, and ‘carry’ the ten into the tens column. Finally add the tens and write in the total on the answer line.
Once the method has been clearly understood and a good knowledge to adding single digits has been achieved it should be possible to move onto harder 3-digit or 4-digit addition.
Year 2 Maths Worksheet: adding 3 small numbers
Here is a little twist on the usual adding three numbers type of worksheet. On this page the third number is missing but the answer is given. What makes this harder is that at least two mental calculations have to be made to reach a correct answer.
Probably the easiest way to do this is to add the first two numbers together and take that total away from the final answer.
Another way of doing this is to count back each of the two numbers in turn and a n umber line is provided for this method.
Next week we have a little twist on the usual adding three numbers type of worksheet. On this page the third number is missing but the answer is given. What makes this harder is that at least two mental calculations have to be made to reach a correct answer. Quite a challenge for Year 2 children!
We also have a page showing the standard written method of addition.The method is to add the units first, put the units in the answer, and ‘carry’ the ten into the tens column. Finally add the tens and write in the total on the answer line.Plenty of practice with easy numbers.
Also coming soon is a great page for Year 5 on relating fractions and division. This fraction worksheet is a follow up to the page published last week, as children need plenty of practice with these ideas.
Maths Worksheet: relate fractions and division
The relationship between fractions and division is one which many children fail to grasp. Put simply, one fifth of 30 is equivalent to 30 divided by 5, or written as a fraction 30 over 5.
It can be a great help to see a fraction as a division calculation. 1/2 can also be thought of as one divided by two.
This page takes a quick look at this and should show whether your child does understand this important relationship.
Investigations are a great way to reinforce mathematical concepts and learn about patterns in maths. This maths worksheet is posted in our Year 2 section, under Using and Applying Maths and has proved to be one of our most used resources.
We have the digits from one to nine again, this time the task is to use three digits to make 12. This is much harder than just using two digits and it would be a good idea to have some cards printed out with the digits on to help with this. They are available in the reception maths worksheets section.
Again plenty of opportunity for talking about the numbers and what counts as a different way. Is 1 + 2 + 9 the same as 2 + 1 + 9 ?