Culinary Math

1
Basic Math for Culinary Programs
Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management

Pastry Arts
Fraction Basics:
A fraction is a way of showing a relation between a PART and a WHOLE
For example: If you cut a pie into 4 equal pieces
And you ate 1 piece

Then you ate of the pie.
1
4
The top number represents the PART of the pie you ate
The bottom number represents how many pieces were in the WHOLE Pie
The part is over the whole

So
would represent 1 piece of a pie that is cut into 2 equal pieces

2/8 would represent 2 pieces of a pie cut into 8 equal pieces
EQUAL FRACTIONS
Fractions can be different but equal
2/4
4/8
2
Reducing Fractions
To reduce a fraction to its lowest term
Find a number that will divide equally into both the top and bottom number
For example: You can see in the example above that 2/4 is the same as
( is the lowest term). To get the lowest term, divided both the top and bottom numbers
by 2
2 ( 2) = 1
4 ( 2) = 2
* How would you know what numbers to use to reduce the fraction?
Here are some tips.
If both the numbers in a fraction end with an even number
then each number can be divided by 2
If either or both the numbers in the fraction ends with a 5 or a 0
then each number can be divided by 5
5
10
( 5)
( 5)
= 1
= 2
Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

A mixed number is a number that contains a whole number AND a fraction
For example: 1
An improper fraction is a fraction in which the top number is larger than the bottom
number
For example: 3/2
*** NOTICE that 1 and 3/2 are equal!
To change a mixed number to an equivalent improper fraction

Multiply the whole number by the bottom number of the fraction (called the
denominator)
1 .. 1 x 2 = 2
Then take your answer and add the top number of the fraction (called the numerator)
2+1=3
The answer you get now becomes the top number of your new improper fraction and the
bottom numbers stays the same as when you started
3/2
To change a fraction into a decimal
The fraction sign means DIVIDE it is telling you to divide the top number by the
bottom number
For example: tells you to divide 1 by 2
On a calculator you put in the top number first 1
Then push the divide sign
Then put in the bottom number 2
The answer will always be the decimal form of that fraction
.5
So
is equal to .5
is equal to .25
is equal to .75
1/3
1/8
is equal to .33 (the indicates a repeating number (3) that never ends)
is equal to .125
The names for decimal places are as follows:

If an instructor wants you to give your answer to the nearest 10th it would mean to use only 1 number after
the decimal point
= .5
or
1/3 = .3
4
If an instructor wants you to give your answer to the nearest 100th it would mean to use only 2 number
after the decimal point
= .50
or
1/3 = .33
If an instructor wants you to give your answer to the nearest 1000th it would mean to use only 1 number
after the decimal point
= .500
or
1/3 = .333
To change a decimal into a percentage

Simply move the decimal to the right two places
For example:
.25 becomes 25%
.5 becomes 50%
.125 becomes 12.5%
Multiplying Fractions
To multiply fractions you simply multiply the numbers straight across
1
--2
2
--- =
4
2
--8
If you have a mixed number, you must first change it to an improper fraction before you multiply
(see page 3)
Dividing Fractions
To divide fractions, take the fraction that immediately follows the division sign and turn it upside down
2
8
---
---
Then just multiply straight across

2
--4
3
---
X
8
6
----
32
Remember, if you have a mixed number, you must first change it to an improper fraction before you
multiply
Adding and Subtracting Fractions

To add or subtract fractions the bottom numbers must be the same (Called a common
denominator)
To find a common denominator you must find a number that both the
denominators will divide into evenly
Sometimes the higher of the two denominators can be used as a common denominator
1
7
---
--- =
In this example 8 can be used as the common denominator because 2 goes into 8, evenly
four times
2x4=8
So
The 7/8 stays the same
BUT to change the into something over 8 we must multiply the top number by
whatever number we use to change the 2 into an 8 ( 2 x 4 = 8)
1
2
(x 4)
(x 4)
=
=
4
8
7
8
=
=
7
8
4
11
--8
--- =
8
---
Now we can add the top numbers (THE BOTTOM NUMBERS STAY THE SAME)
Sometimes a new number has to be used as a common denominator
For example:
1
2
---
--- =
5
6
Here the lower of the two denominators (4) does not divide evenly into the higher
denominator (5)
So we must find a number in which both denominators will evenly divide
To do this you can multiply the two denominators
4 x 5 = 20
20 is the common denominator because both 4 and 5 go into 20
Now we multiply the top number exactly as we did to each of the bottom numbers to get
20
1
4
(x 5)
(x 5)
=
=
5
20
2
5
(x 4)
(x 4)
=
=
8
20
5
--20
--- =
20
13
--20
The term percent means "part of a hundred".

The use of percentages to express a rate is common practice in the food-service industry. For example, food
and beverage costs, labor costs, operating costs, fixed costs, and profits are usually all stated as a
percentage to establish standards of control.
To indicate that any number is a percentage, the number must be accompanied by %
Example: If 34 percent of the customers in a restaurant favor nutritious entres, a part of the whole number
of customers is being expressed. The whole is represented by 100 percent. In this example, all of the
customers that enter the restaurant represent 100 percent.
To convert any decimal to a percentage, multiply the number by 100 and add a percent sign.
A shortcut would be to simply move the decimal point two places to the right and add a percentage sign.
To convert percentages to decimal form, divide by 100 and drop the percent sign.
A shortcut would be to simply move the decimal point two places to the left and drop the percent sign.
Chefs may use percentages to calculate and apply a yield percentage or food cost percentage.
It is helpful to remember the following formulas when working with percentages:
8
Helpful Hints:
First determine what you are looking forpart, whole, or percentage.

The number or word that follows the word of is usually the whole number the word is usually is
connected to the part.
The percentage will always be identified with either the symbol % or the word percent.
The part will usually be less than the whole.
Now it's time to put this knowledge to use.

The bakeshop has an order for 10 dozen rolls. Forty rolls have been baked. What percentage of the
rolls still have to be baked?
What You Know:
1 dozen = 12 rolls
10 dozen rolls = 120 rolls
40 rolls have been baked
80 rolls still need to be baked
Percent = Part/Whole
To find the percentage:
1. Find the decimal equivalent of:

a) 9.99%
b) 0.5%
2. Change the following to a percentage:
a) 0.0125
b) 2/5
3. If you order 300 lobster tails and you use 32
percent, how many do you have left?
4. You have 60 percent of a bottle of raspberry syrup
remaining. If 10 ounces were used, how many ounces
did the bottle originally hold?
5. Mr. Smith purchased $125.00 worth of spices and

herbs. Because this was such a large order, the
supplier charged Mr. Smith only $95.00. What percent
discount did Mr. Smith receive?
____________________________________________
Answers
1. a) .0999 b) .005
2. a) 999% b) 40%
3. 204
4. 25 ounces
5. 24%
The bridge method is the "recipe" for converting from one unit of measure to another. It can be used to
convert ounces to pounds, quarts to pints, tablespoons to cups, grams to ounces, volume to weight, and so
on.
Example: teaspoons to cups

Step 1: If the unit of measurement that you are converting is a whole number, put it over 1. If it is a fraction,
first convert it to a decimal and then put it over 1.
Step 2: Place a multiplication sign next to this.
Step 3: Draw another fraction line.
Step 4: Put in the units of measurement. The unit of measurement to be removed is written on the bottom.
The unit of measurement to be converted to is written on top. The units diagonal to each other (that are the
same) cancel each other out.
Step 5: Enter the numbers to create the equivalency.
10
Step 6: Multiply straight across.
Step 7: Reduce the resulting fraction (if needed).
Convert the following using the bridge method:

1. 5 gallons = ? qt
4. 2 pecks = ? gal
2. 78 cups = ? quarts
5. 9 tbsp = ? tsp
3. 18 tsp = ? cups
U.S Standard
Ounces to Pounds
Metric System
3tsp = 1 tbsp = oz
16tbsp = 1 cup = 8 oz
2 cups = 1 pint = 16 oz
2 Pint = 1 quart = 32 oz
4 quarts = 1 gallon =128 oz
8 oz = #
16 oz = 1#
32 oz = 1#
64 oz = 4#
1,000 ml = 1 L = 33.8 oz
1,000 g = 1 KG = 2.21#
28.35 g = 1 oz
Answers:
1. 20 qt
2. 19.5 quarts
3. .375 cups
4. 4 gal
5. 27 tsp
11

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What are some tips for reducing fractions?

What are some tips for reducing fractions?

How do you change a mixed number to an improper fraction and vice versa?

How do you change a mixed number to an improper fraction and vice versa?

1

Basic Math for Culinary Programs

Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management

And you ate 1 piece

The part is over the whole

would represent 1 piece of a pie that is cut into 2 equal pieces

Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

*** NOTICE that 1 and 3/2 are equal!

To change a mixed number to an equivalent improper fraction

The names for decimal places are as follows:

To change a decimal into a percentage

Then just multiply straight across

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

The term percent means "part of a hundred".

First determine what you are looking forpart, whole, or percentage.

Now it's time to put this knowledge to use.

1. Find the decimal equivalent of:

5. Mr. Smith purchased $125.00 worth of spices and

Example: teaspoons to cups

Step 2: Place a multiplication sign next to this.

Step 3: Draw another fraction line.

Step 5: Enter the numbers to create the equivalency.

Step 6: Multiply straight across.

Step 7: Reduce the resulting fraction (if needed).

Convert the following using the bridge method:

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