Why are fractions so hard?

Make fractions fun and use physical demonstrations to help visualize.

You didn't say what age group. I am far from being a math whiz but.....perhaps you can go back to the basics. Like 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 and tell them how to get the answer. (I've always noticed that alot of people have trouble with fractions.)... Then go from there. If kids didn't learn their times tables, then multiplying and dividing (which of course you need for fractions) will seem impossible to them. So perhaps you could also determine if they know their times tables, and, if not, you've got your hands full.

no. use something that will help them remenber.....like candy bars!!!

Tell them to stop being stupid....

I had difficulty with fractions as a student until one day I had to use a tape measure at work. Then all of a sudden it clicked and I understood, today I have no problem whatsoever in helping my daughter with hers. Might I add that she does real well with fractions today even though I cannot truthfully say it's all my fault.Try anything that will work. Hope you get some really great suggestions on here LOL.

uhmm... I never heard of that before. I actually think that its extremely easy and I'm no genius. I usually have trouble with math but fractions, piece of cake. I think that for most people the hardest part is putting the fractions into decimal places. If you help them in that area, the rest should come really easy.

i think alot of it has to do with the fact that alot of the teachers have as much trouble with it as the students do and as a result don't do an effective job of teaching this concept. the easiest way is to get as much outside help and extra work as you can do....nothing will burn these concepts into your head as much as repetition will.....and this will be a big help in the future going into algebra classes, because alot of algebra equations are essentially fractions or set up based on a fraction format....which i also feel is the reason that alot of people have so much trouble with such an easy concept as algebreic equations...they never got a good foundation in fractions, so once they start setting these problems up i.e. 3(x+5) (y-4) ---------------- a what does this look like? the dreaded fraction hahahahah but it really isn't.....but try and tell a student who is terrified of fractions that. educate the teachers, then the effectivness of the teachers will increase, then the understanding of the students will increase....but doing more than the assigned work and getting as much outside help as possible will help in learning these concepts. it worked for me anyway and iended up with honors in math.