Dr. Mayer Goldberg

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A pumping lemma for invalid reductions of fractions

Children often incorrectly reduce fractions by canceling common digits instead of common factors. There are cases, however, in which this incorrect method leads to correct results. Instances such as 16/64 and 19/95 are well-known. In this paper, we consider such "weird fractions" and show how examples of them can be multiplied ad infinitum and lead to interesting questions.

Publication language English
Pages 357-364
Journal College Mathematics Journal
Volume 41
Issue number 5
Publication status Published - 01.11.2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Mathematics
Education
Access to Document
10.4169/074683410X521955
Other files and links
Link to publication in Scopus