A fraction is a number that is not a whole number. It is written as one number divided another number, e.g. ¾. The top number, 3, is called the numerator and the bottom number, 4, is called the denominator: the denominator can NEVER be zero. Fractions represent part of a whole number. But not all fractions are the same type. Proper fractions have top numbers, or numerators, lower than their bottom numbers, or denominators. Improper fractions are those where the numerators are bigger than the denominators. Another way to write improper fractions is as mixed numbers where units are shown next... Show more A fraction is a number that is not a whole number. It is written as one number divided another number, e.g. ¾. The top number, 3, is called the numerator and the bottom number, 4, is called the denominator: the denominator can NEVER be zero. Fractions represent part of a whole number. But not all fractions are the same type. Proper fractions have top numbers, or numerators, lower than their bottom numbers, or denominators. Improper fractions are those where the numerators are bigger than the denominators. Another way to write improper fractions is as mixed numbers where units are shown next to a proper fraction. For example, 4⁄3 is the equivalent of 11⁄3. Fractions denote numbers that are less than a unit. One way of writing these 'partial' numbers is by using a decimal point. These are called decimal numbers. An example would be 2.5. 2.5 as a fraction would be written as 21⁄2. 21⁄2 is a mixed number. Another way to write it would be 5⁄2 which is an improper fraction. Proper fractions have numerators which are lower than their denominators. Fractions can be written more than one way. For instance ten twentieths could be written as 10⁄20 and it has the same value as 1⁄2 or 2⁄4. When you are calculating fractions of numbers you divide them by the number below the line and then times the answer by the number above the line. For example, to work out four twentieths of forty you divide 40 by 20, which is 2, then times two by 4 giving the answer 8. TIP 1: The numerator is the number at the top and the denominator is the number at the bottom of a fraction. TIP 2: To convert a mixed fraction to an improper fraction, follow these steps: Multiply the whole number part by the denominator. Add this result to the numerator. Write the fraction with step 2 in the numerator and keep the original denominator. Show less
A fraction is a number that is not a whole number. It is written as one number divided another number, e.g. ¾. The top number, 3, is called the numerator and the bottom number, 4, is called the denominator: the denominator can NEVER be zero.
Fractions represent part of a whole number. But not all fractions are the same type. Proper fractions have top numbers, or numerators, lower than their bottom numbers, or denominators. Improper fractions are those where the numerators are bigger than the denominators. Another way to write improper fractions is as mixed numbers where units are shown next to a proper fraction. For example, 4⁄3 is the equivalent of 11⁄3.
Fractions denote numbers that are less than a unit. One way of writing these 'partial' numbers is by using a decimal point. These are called decimal numbers. An example would be 2.5. 2.5 as a fraction would be written as 21⁄2. 21⁄2 is a mixed number. Another way to write it would be 5⁄2 which is an improper fraction. Proper fractions have numerators which are lower than their denominators.
Fractions can be written more than one way. For instance ten twentieths could be written as 10⁄20 and it has the same value as 1⁄2 or 2⁄4. When you are calculating fractions of numbers you divide them by the number below the line and then times the answer by the number above the line. For example, to work out four twentieths of forty you divide 40 by 20, which is 2, then times two by 4 giving the answer 8.
TIP 1: The numerator is the number at the top and the denominator is the number at the bottom of a fraction.
TIP 2: To convert a mixed fraction to an improper fraction, follow these steps:
Join 4M+ learners. Unlock unlimited quizzes, wrong-answer tracking, flashcards + reminders, study guides, and 1-on-1 challenges.