The Hidden Math lesson in Bieber’s song

“Just a fraction of your love…” croons Justin Bieber.

What if Bieber decided to share the WHOLE of his love with his fans? 

That would be quite a distribution of many fractions! No doubt this clever Bieber sang  “common denominator”; he knew it’s impossible to do anything with fractions without the denominator!

There is an existential relationship between a fraction and a denominator. One can’t exist without the other. 

Fractions are kind of old-fashioned prudes.; Proper and improper fractions, like and unlike fractions, mixed and pure fractions, etc.

The Denominator, a Corleone of sorts, is a deadly character without whose permission a fraction just can’t do any mathematical operation. 

The denominator helps you read and understand a fraction. Like a reality check, it tells you the number of equal parts in a whole.

For example, the fraction 4/6 tells you that there are 6 equal parts to one whole, out of which 4 are counted.

Sometimes the denominators are different and common ground or a common denominator has to be reached to go ahead with the operation.

Only after you get a common denominator, is the addition or subtraction of fractions possible.

When it comes to multiplication, the numerator and the denominator break into a camaraderie and just multiply with its partner correspondingly.

However, division sees the denominator in its acrobatic elements!

Now you know why Bieber chose to serenade the common denominator! 

Next time you see a fraction, watch out for that number under the line, love it or hate it, but don’t ever ignore it, because the solution to your problem in fractions depends only on the denominator!