All About FRACTION

Fractions were invented long before decimal numbers, as a way of showing portions less than 1, and they're still hanging around.

They're used in cooking, in building, in sewing, in the stock market - they're everywhere, and we need to understand them.

3 (numerator)

__

4 (denominator) or written as 3/4

We can read this fraction as three-fourths, three over four, or three divided by four.

3/4 = 0.75
Every fraction can be converted to a decimal by dividing. If you use the calculator to divide 3 by 4, you'll find that it is equal to 0.75.

More examples:

1/2 = 0.5

1/4 = 0.25

1/8 = 0.125

Here are some terms that are very important when working with fractions.

Proper fraction: When the numerator is less than the denominator, we call the expression a proper fraction. These are some examples of proper fractions:

3/4

2/3

1/9

97/100

Improper fraction: An improper fraction occurs when the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator. These are some examples of improper fractions:

5/4

9/2

6/6

19/7

Mixed number: When an expression consists of a whole number and a proper fraction, we call it a mixed number. Here are some examples of mixed numbers:

We can convert a mixed number to an improper fraction. First, multiply the whole number by the denominator of the fraction. Then, add the numerator of the fraction to the product. Finally, write the sum over the original denominator.

In this example, since three thirds is a whole, the whole number 1 is three thirds plus one more third, which equals four thirds.

Convert 1-1/3 to an improper fraction:

(1x3)+1 4

---------=---

3 3

Equivalent fractions: There are many ways to write a fraction of a whole. Fractions that represent the same number are called equivalent fractions. This is basically the same thing as equal ratios. For example: 2/4, and 4/8 are all equivalent fractions. To find out if two fractions are equivalent, use a calculator and divide. If the answer is the same, then they are equivalent.