Teaching Analytic Reasoning and Analogical Reasoning

Using Math Exercises Involving Fractions

By

Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif

©Copyright 2010 by Anthony J. Fejfar

You can teach your child or student with math fraction exercises which help to

develop cross hemisphere, interactive thinking which is both analytic and analogical.

You can begin the educational process by buying wood , Cuisenaire Math Education

blocks at www.Amazon.com, at an affordable price. The Cuisenaire block can be used

to teach fractions by, for example, taking one block and lining it up with other blocks, so

that the blocks line up with the same length. Thus, three blocks of one size and color can

be lined up with one longer block of a different color. Thus, three orange blocks might

have the same length as one long, blue block. Thus, concretely, the child or student is

taught that three blocks equal the same length as one long block, or, that 3 x 1/3 = 1.

This exercise can be used with other blocks representing the fractions of 2 x ½ = 1, and

4 x ¼ = 1, etc. This of course involves concrete logic, and so a materialist or a person

who uses the concept of “reification” cannot object to the results.

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 You can try the following fraction exercises to use three different types of logic:

analytic logic, analytic/analogical logic, and analogical logic

A. ½ = 2/4 analytic logic 1 divided by 2 equals 2/4

B. ½ : 2/4 analytical/analogical logic 1 divided by 2 is as to 2 divided by 4

C. 1:2 as 2:4 analogical logic 1 is to 2 as 2 is to 4

also stated: 1:2 @ 2:4

D. Solve problems: ½ = x/4 and ½ : x/4 and 1:2 @ x/4

A. 2/4 = 4/8 analytical logic 2 divided by 4 equals 4 divided by 8

B. 2/4 : 4/8 analytical/analogical logic 2 divided by 4 is as to 4 divided by 8

C. 2 : 4 as 4:8 analogical logic 2 is to 4 as 4 is to 8

also stated: 2:4 @ 4:8 (@ means “as”)

D. Solve problems: 2/4 = x/8 and 2/4 : x/8 and 2:4 @ x:8

You can also use the following educational exercise which is somewhat different:

A. 4/8 = 8/16 analytic logic 4 divided by 8 equals 8 divided by 16

B. 4/8 : 8/16 analytic/analogical logic 4/8 is as to 8/16

C. 4:8 as 8:16 analogical logic 4 is to 8 as 8 is to 16

also stated: 4:8 @ 8:16 (where @ means “as”)

D. Solve problems: 4/8 = x/16 and 4/8 : x/16 and 4:8 @ x:16
If these exercises are practiced the practitioner’s analytic logic, analytic/analogical logic,

and analogical cognitive abilities should improve. Additionally, the foregoing should

also help develop the cognitive ability of analytic/analogical thinking.