(2) Next comes the association with ½ of an inch, ½ of a foot, ½ of a glassful and other cases where y is not so obviously a unitary object whose pieces still show their derivation from it. Similarly for 1⁄4, 1⁄3, etc.
(3) Next comes the association with 1⁄2 of a collection of eight pieces of candy, 1⁄3 of a dozen eggs, 1⁄5 of a squad of ten soldiers, etc., until 1⁄2, 1⁄3, 1⁄4, 1⁄5, 1⁄6, and 1⁄8 are understood as names of certain parts of a collection of objects.
(4) Next comes the similar association when the nature of the collection is left undefined, the pupil responding to
1⁄2 of 6 is ..., 1⁄4 of 8 is ..., 2 is 1⁄5 of ...,
1⁄3 of 6 is ..., 1⁄3 of 9 is ..., 2 is 1⁄3 of ..., and the like.
Each of these abilities is justified in teaching by its intrinsic merits, irrespective of its later service in helping to constitute the general understanding of the meaning of a fraction. The habits thus formed in grades 3 or 4 are of constant service then and thereafter in and out of school.
(5) With these comes the use of 1⁄5 of 10, 15, 20, etc., 1⁄6 of 12, 18, 42, etc., as a useful variety of drill on the division tables, valuable in itself, and a means of making the notion of a unit fraction more general by adding 1⁄7 and 1⁄9 to the scheme.
(6) Next comes the connection of 3⁄4, 2⁄5, 3⁄5, 4⁄5, 2⁄3, 1⁄6, 5⁄6, 3⁄8, 5⁄8, 7⁄8, 3⁄10, 7⁄10, and 9⁄10, each with its meaning as a certain part of some conveniently divisible unit, and, (7) and (8), connections between these fractions and their meanings as parts of certain magnitudes (7) and collections (8) of convenient size, and (9) connections between these fractions and their meanings when the nature of the magnitude or collection is unstated, as in 4⁄5 of 15 = ..., 5⁄8 of 32 = ....
(10) That the relation is general is shown by using it with numbers requiring written division and multiplication, such as 7⁄8 of 1736 = ..., and with United States money.
Elements (6) to (10) again are useful even if the pupil never goes farther in arithmetic. One of the commonest uses of fractions is in calculating the cost of fractions of yards of cloth, and fractions of pounds of meat, cheese, etc.
The next step (11) is to understand to some extent the principle that the value of any of these fractions is unaltered by multiplying or dividing the numerator and denominator by the same number. The drills in expressing fractions in lower and higher terms which accomplish this are paralleled by (12) and (13) simple exercises in adding and subtracting fractions to show that fractions are quantities that can be operated on like any quantities, and by (14) simple work with mixed numbers (addition and subtraction and reductions), and (15) improper fractions. All that is done with improper fractions is (a) to have the pupil use a few of them as he would any fractions and (b) to note their equivalent mixed numbers. In (12), (13), and (14) only fractions of the same denominators are added or subtracted, and in (12) (13), (14), and (15) only fractions with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 10 in the denominator are used. As hitherto, the work of (11) to (15) is useful in and of itself. (16) Definitions are given of the following type:—
Numbers like 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 20, 36, 140, 921 are called whole numbers.