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Ahmad's savings — books, then a game
Ahmad spent $36 on books. This was of his savings. After buying the books, he spent of the remaining savings on a game. How much did he spend on the game?
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The pattern behind it: Branching
The second fraction is of one piece, not of the whole.
In this one. A given amount lands on a whole number of units — $36 is 4 units, so it fixes 1 unit = $9, and every later quantity is counted in those same units instead of guessed at as a fraction.
Also uses: Units and parts
How to spot it
A second fraction arrives after the first and is attached to a piece rather than to the whole — 'of the remainder', 'of what was left', or 'of the ones that were red'.
Common mistake
Children take the second fraction of the original total instead of the piece it was named against, which makes the amount come out too big.
Try one like it
Standard A dress and a handbag — Mei's savings Mei spent $48 on a dress. This was 3/8 of her savings. After buying the dress, she spent 1/5 of the remaining savings on a handbag…The 33 problem patterns
All 33 patterns, one to a page — the 19 behind Primary 5 and 6 word problems, and the skills the younger years are built on. The bar model, how to spot it in the question, and the mistake children make. A booklet you can print. Free.
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