Can 1/3 and 1/3 = 2/6? It seemed so
This is a great example of the downside of over-relying on metaphors and analogies to teach mathematical concepts. The reality is that fractions are not like groups of pencils or tables of girls and boys. They are rigorously defined mathematical constructs that occasionally can be mapped to real-world things (and usually with severe constraints). 1&#x2F;3 + 1&#x2F;3 isn&#x27;t 2&#x2F;6 because it doesn&#x27;t follow from the underlying axioms that define rational numbers - and not because of anything else.