Fractions and Percents

Uh-oh, the time has arrived. Christopher is doing fractions and percents. For some reason, I am incapable of doing either. Colleagues at work can tell you, I can never remember how to do a percent -- what do I divide into what or is there something I multiply?

Now, I can tell you if half the pie is shaded and even go so far as to tell you 2/10 is 20 percent. But when you start doing 2 3/5 and what is an equivalent fraction, I simply stop. Yep, don't even try to figure it out. Quite frankly, my brain begins to hurt. I cannot find those neurons that connect to reason out the problem.

I've accepted this math shortcoming in my personal life and my work life. I ignore the need to do a fraction or a percent. Or, I ask my trusty friend Allison to figure it out. In fact, last week, I called Allison to help Christopher figure out what percent equaled 1/12. I knew it was less than 10 percent, but didn't know what to divide and how to move the decimal point . . I don't even know how to ask the question and use the right terms to correctly write about fraction figuring out.

It should be as simple as me reading a book, going online, practicing or getting a workbook, but I'm 40 years old and have managed just fine. So, I'll use the online tools whenever Christopher gets stuck or call up my good friend Allison. I've got all three of her numbers so she can't hide from me.

I wonder what's the percentage of time she'll help!?