Source: Cyberchase:"A Fraction of a Chance"
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In this video segment from Cyberchase, Wicked and Digit have to solve a math puzzle involving fractions in order to get the clue they need from a talking Sphinx. Using their knowledge of numerators and denominators, they solve the puzzle and are able to move on in their quest to save the CyberSquad.
Download and ShareHere are some Frame, Focus and Follow-up suggestions for using this video in a math lesson.
What is Frame, Focus and Follow-up?
Frame: Fractions are special numbers. When are they useful? You’ve probably noticed how a fraction consists of a number on top, the numerator, and a number on the bottom, the denominator. What does each of these numbers mean? Can you give examples of some fractions that you know?
Focus: As you watch this segment, notice Digit's fraction clue. What does the denominator tell us? What does the numerator tell us? Why does he only take one candy from the box?
Follow Up: How did Digit know to take only one candy from the box? What fraction of the box of candy was left after Digit took one candy? How can you tell the difference between the numerator and denominator in a fraction?
WICKED: Yoo hoo, Sphinxy! Where's the UVO?
DIGIT: You didn't think it was gonna be that simple, did you?
WICKED: Well excuse me, but I'm new at this. All right?
DIGIT: Getting the Sphinx to talk has something to do with the fraction one-sixth, that's why Motherboard gave me this.
WICKED: Hello. What's that box over there? Oh! A full box of chocolate sand cones. Mmm. I simply adore these.
DIGIT: Control yourself, Wicky! We didn’t come here to eat chocolate sand cones. Ah... On the other hand...Maybe there's a connection between the sand cones and the Sphinx
WICKED: Mm! They're scrumptious. Maybe Sphinxy likes them, too.
DIGIT: Wicked, you're a genius!
WICKED: I am?
DIGIT: Yep. I just remembered - the Sphinx only talks when you give it what it wants. How many cones in there?
WICKED: It's full up. One-two-three-four-five-six!
DIGIT: And six is the bottom number of our fraction!
WICKED: Well then give the Sphinx all six cones!
DIGIT: I don't think so. We're looking for a fraction, and fractions are parts of a whole. This bottom number - six, stands for how many parts in the whole box!
WICKED: I hate to admit it, but you're making sense. We need to give it a fraction of the box, not all of it.
DIGIT: And the fraction of the box we give it is... ONE-sixth! So if six sand cones make up the whole box...then one-sixth of that is one cone! C'mon! We're about to find the UVO!
DIGIT: Want a sand cone?
SPHINX: De-licious! You have correctly used the fractions bottom number – the denominator - to figure out what I wanted - one sixth of all the cones. Now you must travel on to RFair City to continue your search for the UVO.
WICKED: Excuse me, big boy, I don't mean to be pushy - but can you give us a little more help than that?
SPHINX: Grubby. Look for Grubby.
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