ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates the critical concepts related to the rational numbers, offers common student misconceptions, and provides instructional strategies across the grade levels. Concepts closely related to fractions, decimals, percents, and ratios are those of proportion and probability. These concepts are critical foundations for algebra, data analysis, and higher-level problem solving. The chapter builds on the preceding instructional principles for rational numbers to provide more specific intervention strategies by domain. It discusses on common problems with rational number learning followed by teaching strategies. Students with mathematics learning disabilities, other low-achieving students, and even typically achieving students can encounter problems when the range of numbers in mathematics expands to include rational numbers. As students progress to the full range of rational number concepts they often face difficulties with representations of these concepts, expressing numbers in different forms, and using the range of rational numbers to solve problems.
