CHRM 0950 Culinary Math

Week 1 Math Basics

Fractions Fractions are numeric symbols of the

relationship between the part and the whole. Numerator (Top # in the fraction) Denominator (Bottom # in the fraction)

Common kitchen fractions used: 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4

A Fraction is… Part of a whole number.

3 out of 5 slices of pie could be represented by – 3/5. (3 is the part, 5 is the whole amount)

Also can be represented as a division problem. 3 ÷ 5

Types of Fractions Proper (Common) Fraction.

Where the numerator is lower than the denominator. For example: ½ or ¾

Improper Fraction Where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator. For

example: 28/7, 140/70, 28/28 Mixed Number

Contains both a whole number and fraction. For example: 4 3/8 Lowest Term Fraction

The result of reducing a fraction so that the numerator and denominator no longer have any common factors. For example: 14 = 14 ÷ 14 = 1

28 28 14 2

Converting Fractions To convert a whole # to a fraction, simply place the

whole number over 1.For example: 5 = 5

1 Converting improper fractions to mixed numbers:

Divide the Numerator by the Denominator. The answer will be the whole # and the remainder (if any) will be place over the denominator of the original improper fraction to form the fractional part of the mixed number.

Addition and Subtraction of Fractions Fractions that are going to be added or subtracted

together must have a common denominator.

Multiplication of Fractions This process is done by simply:

Multiply the Numerator x Numerator Multiply the Denominator x Denominator Carry the numbers across for the new numerator

and denominator.

Division of Fractions Invert the second fraction (By placing the

denominator over the numerator. Next change the “÷” sign to a “x” sign, then

proceed with multiplying the problem.

Decimals .1 = One Tenth .01 = One Hundredth .001 = One Thousandth .0001 = One Ten-Thousandth

Converting a Fraction to a Decimal Carry out the Division problem to the ten-

thousandths place and truncate. Truncate means to cut off a number at a given

decimal place without regard to rounding . For example: 12.34567 Truncated to the hundredths place would be 12.34

Converting Decimals to Fractions Read the number as a decimal using place

value. Write the number as a fraction Reduce to the lowest terms.

Example: Seventy-Five one-hundredths.

75/100 = 3/4

Percent A percent (%) is a ratio of a number to 100.

75/100 = 75%

.75 = 75%

Solving Word Problems Word problems are good math practice because they

use real-life situations. Steps to Solving Word Problems:

1) Determine what is being solved for.

2) Decide what must be done to get the answer.

3) Perform the necessary calculations.

4) Find out if the question has been answered by

the calculations.

5) Decide whether the answer is reasonable.