Math Out Loud

The world’s first and only podcasted math dictionary created by 6th grade students

New Site

Posted in Uncategorized on November 23, 2009 by mrsmcleod

Math Out Loud has migrated to a new site. Please visit us at our new location!

http://juliemcleod.org/mathoutloud/

Ratios and Proportions

Posted in Uncategorized on May 8, 2009 by mrsmcleod

ratios_and_proportions

Today on Math Out Loud we’ll be comparing and contrasting ratio and proportion, R-A-T-I-O and P-R-O-P-O-R-T-I-O-N. A ratio is a comparison of two quantities with a colon, a fraction or the word to. With ratios, order matters! Ratios are used in a proportion when looking for a prediction. A proportion is the fraction that solves which has two equivalent ratios. A proportion is used to find the prediction that is found by multiplying. They are both different because the ratio is a comparison and a proportion is an equation that compares two ratios. They are similar because they are both used to find a prediction. They are also similar because they compare ratios. We are the Math Masters with the word comparison of ratio and proportion on Math Out Loud.

Factor and Multiple

Posted in Uncategorized on April 21, 2009 by mrsmcleod

factor_and_multiple

Today on Math Out Loud we’ll be comparing and contrasting factor and multiple: F-A-C-T-O-R and M-U-L-T-I-P-L-E.

 

Factors and multiples are similar because they both: can help with fractions. Factors help us when we are simplifying fractions. Multiples help find the least common denominator (LCD). They also both use multiplication and have whole numbers.

 

They are different in many ways. Like how multiples are multiplying numbers and factors use division. Also factors use factor trees and multiples use a list. Factors also decrease or take apart, and multiples increase numbers.

 

We’re the Math Masters with the word comparison on multiple and factor on Math Out Loud.

Simplest Form

Posted in Uncategorized on January 21, 2009 by mrsmcleod

simplest_form

Today we will be talking about the interesting work simplest form, s-i-m-p-l-e-s-t f-o-r-m. Simplest form is useful because it makes fractions easier to answer. The definition of simplest form is when the the numerator and denominator have no common factors other than 1. An example of simplest for is 1/2 and 2/3 because they have no common factors other than 1. A non-example of simplest form is 3/6 and 2/4 because they have common factors other than 1. We’re the Math Masters with the word story of simplest form on Math Out Loud!

Improper Fraction

Posted in Uncategorized on January 21, 2009 by mrsmcleod

improper_fraction

Today on Math Out Loud, we’ll be focusing in the word improper fraction, i-m-p-r-o-p-e-r f-r-a-c-t-i-o-n. Improper fractions are used wehn tricking the problem solver! The first time the word was used wa in 1542. An improper fraction is a fraction having the numerator greater than the denominator. An example of an improper fraction would be 12 over 6 because 12 is greater than 6. A non-example would be 6 over 12 because 6 is less than 12. We’re the Math Masters with the word story of improper fraction on Math Out Loud!

Terminating Decimal

Posted in Uncategorized on January 15, 2009 by mrsmcleod

terminating_decimal

Today on Math Out Loud, we’ll focus on the word terminating decimal, t-e-r-m-i-n-a-t-i-n-g d-e-c-i-m-a-l. The first time the word terminating decimal was used was in 1882 by John Ogilvie. Terminating decimal means capable of coming to an end or a decimal number that ends or terminates. A terminating decimal such as 0.75 has a finite number. A non-example is a repeating decimal which is a decimal that never ends. We’re the Math Masters with the word story of terminating decimal on Math Out Loud!

Expression

Posted in Uncategorized on November 19, 2008 by mrsmcleod

expression

Today on Math Out Loud, we’ll focus on the word expression, e-x-p-r-e-s-s-i-o-n. People show how they feel with the expression on their face. Numbers can show expression but in a different way. The first time the word was used in a mathematical context was in 1796. A mathematical expression has numbers, operations and maybe even variables. An example of a mathematical expression is 4 + 3. A non-example has an equal sign and an answer, like 4 + 3 = 7 We’re the Math Masters with the word story of expression on Math Out Loud.

Composite Numbers

Posted in Uncategorized on October 22, 2008 by mrsmcleod

composite number

Today on math out loud we’ll focus on the word story of composite numbers, c-o-m-p-o-s-i-t-e n-u-m-b-e-r-s. The definition of composite number is a number that has more than two factors. We first started to use the word composite numbers in 1772. An example of a composite number is 8. It’s a composite number because it has four factors, 1, 2, 4, and 8. A non-example is prime numbers like 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17 and 19. These numbers only have 2 factors, the number itself and 1. If you don’t know what factors are, check our our other word story! We’re the math masters with the word story of composite numbers on Math Out Loud!!!!

Distributive Property

Posted in Uncategorized on October 16, 2008 by mrsmcleod

distributive property

Today on Math Out Loud we’ll focus on the words distributive property, d-i-s-t-r-i-b-u-t-i-v-e p-r-o-p-e-r-t-y. You can use the distributive property when you want to break down a problem to make it easier. It is useful when there is a 2-digit or larger number that you are trying to multiply. To use the distributive property, you break up the 2-digit or larger number and then multiply. For example, if you have the problem 32 x 4, break up the 32 into 30 + 2. Then we multiply 30 x 4 and 2 x 4. Then you add the products. So you add 120 plus 8 to get 128. A non-example would be 9 x 8 because breaking it up doesn’t really make the math easier to do in our head. We’re the Math Masters with the word story of distributive property on Math Out Loud.

Variable

Posted in Uncategorized on October 15, 2008 by mrsmcleod

variable

Today on Math Out Loud we’ll focus on the word variable, v-a-r-i-a-b-l-e. When we first learned about letters when we were young, they were used for reading, writing and spelling. Now that we are older we know that letters can be used in math, too! A variable is aletter in a mathematical expression such as n, x, s, b, or any other letter. The variables are the letters. Numbers are not variables. A variable is a letter that represents aquantity that can change. In an algebraic equation such as x + 3 = 8, the variable is x. The numbers 3 and 8 in that equation are not variables. They are called constants. We’re the Math Masters with the word story of variables on Math Out Loud.