Fractions = Trouble! Read Online Free PDF

out of a book that has hundreds of science fair projects. The project it had for hamsters was testing how far hamsters can smell.”
    Wilson liked the idea already. “How do you do that?”
    â€œYou have to wait until they’re pretty hungry. Then you try putting their food at different distances until they pick up the smell and run over to get it.”

    It sounded like a brilliant idea to Wilson.
    â€œBecca is supposed to take Squiggles home this weekend, but I bet she’d let you have her turn,” Laura said.
    Wilson shot her a grateful grin.
    â€œDid the book have any science fair experiments you can do with pickles?” Josh asked.
    Laura shook her head.
    â€œI didn’t think so,” Josh said.
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    Wilson went to see Mrs. Tucker on Wednesday after school and again on Saturday morning. On Saturday, he drew a group of eight hamsters. First he colored three of the hamsters brown: 3/8 . Then he colored two more brown:. That made five brown hamsters total, out of the group of eight: 3/8 += 5/8 !
    When he filled pie-shaped circles with hamsters, two hamsters in a circle of eight
took up the same amount of space as one hamster in a circle of four. Sowas equal to ¼!
    Wilson drew hamsters until his hamster-drawing hand was about to fall off. His drawings covered Mrs. Tucker’s table.
    â€œThank you for letting me keep these,” Mrs. Tucker said. “I can use your drawings to help other children learn about fractions. I’m going to tell Mrs. Porter about them, too. I know she’s always looking for new ways to get her students interested in math, and this would be perfect, especially since all of you love little Squiggles so much.”
    Wilson didn’t tell Mrs. Tucker that he was glad she was keeping his drawings so that no one would see him carrying them home and know that he was going to a math tutor.
    Instead he told Mrs. Tucker about his
progress on the science fair. “I’m going to do my smelling experiments this afternoon. I had to wait until Pip and Squiggles were hungry.”
    â€œCall me when you get your results!” Mrs. Tucker said. “How is your brother’s tent project coming along?”
    â€œHe has the tents set up in the yard, but it hasn’t been windy enough yet to really test them.”
    â€œWell, here in Colorado you won’t have to wait long for wind.”
    It was true. There had been some mornings last month when it had been so windy that Wilson took Kipper’s hand on their way to school so his little brother wouldn’t blow away.
    â€œGood luck this afternoon!” Mrs. Tucker said.
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    Neither hamster could smell the food bowl at five feet or at four feet, but they both could smell it at three feet. Wilson had proved something! He had proved an actual scientific fact! Maybe he’d even use fractions somehow on his science fair display board.
    He called Mrs. Tucker and told her his results. He called Josh and told him. He’d tell Laura on Monday at school.
    Wilson and Kipper left for school early Monday morning, carrying Squiggles’s cage, so Wilson could get him settled in his corner before the bell. The classroom was empty when Wilson arrived; Mrs. Porter must have been down the hall in the teachers’ lounge.
    Once Squiggles had everything he needed—food, water, a farewell hug—Wilson turned around and saw the bulletin board.

    He couldn’t believe it.
    There, on the board, were four large, familiar-looking pictures of hamsters.
    Wilson’s pictures.
    Wilson’s pictures made with the math tutor.
    Wilson’s pictures made with the math tutor for all the world to see.

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    Wilson snatched his pictures from the bulletin board, not caring as thumbtacks scattered across the floor. He ripped them in half, and in half again, and again. Then he took the torn scraps of paper and buried them in the bottom of the classroom recycling bin.
    Mrs. Porter bustled into