Back to: Mathematics Primary 3
A fraction is a number that can name a part of a whole or part of a set. A fraction is made up of two parts: a numerator and a denominator. It is used to represent how many parts we have out of the total number of parts. In a fraction, the numerator tells the number of equal parts. The denominator tells the number of equal parts in all.
The line in a fraction that separates the numerator and denominator can be rewritten using the division symbol.
So, to convert a fraction to a decimal, divide the numerator by the denominator. If required, you can use a calculator to do this. This will give us our answer as a decimal.
Example 1: Mario baked 8 treats on a tray. He fed two treats to his puppy. What fraction of the treats were eaten?
Number eaten ———- ——2/
Number in the group ——– 8
So, 2/8 of the treats were eaten.
Proper fraction: It is a proper fraction when the numerator is less than the denominator e.g ¾, ½, 5/10 , 8/9
Improper fraction: It is an improper fraction when the numerator is greater than or equal to its denominator. e.g. 4/3, 4/2, 5/3, 7/4, etc. An improper fraction can be converted into a mixed fraction and vice versa.
Mixed fraction: This is a combination of a whole number and either a proper or improper fraction e.g. 1½, 15/4 , 31/6 , 4¼ , 6 7/9. A mixed number has a whole number part and a fraction part.
E.g. Group the following fractions into proper, improper and mixed fraction
14/ 5, ½, 5/6, 31/5 , 7/4 ,5/4, 3/2, 1/6, 15/6
Proper fraction: ½, 1/6, 5/6
Improper fraction: 3/2 , 5/4, 7/4
Mixed fraction: 14/5, 15/6, 31/5
| Mixed Fractions
11/2 23/4 35/6 |
Improper Fractions
3/2 11/4 23/6 |
23/4 is read as two and three-fourth OR two whole number and three-fourth.
35/6 is read as three and five-sixth OR three whole number and five-sixth.
Fractions equivalent to a given fraction can be obtained by multiplying or dividing its numerator and denominator by a nonzero number.
A fraction in which there is no common factor, except 1, in its numerator and denominator is called a fraction in the simplest or lowest form.
Fractions with same denominators are called like fractions and if the denominators are different, then they are called unlike fractions.
Fractions can be compared by converting them into like fractions and then arranging them in ascending or descending order.
Quiz
Reduce the following to lowest terms
13) 4/8 14) 12/30 15) 32/40
16) 25/60 17) 35/70 18) 48/90
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