FRACTIONS

We may think about fractions in different ways:

Example 1: The fraction can represent one pizza cut into 3 pieces, out of which a person takes 2 pieces.

Example 2: The fraction can represent 2 pizzas split among 3 people.

Example 3: The fraction can represent the ratio of 2 pieces of pizza to 3 pieces of pizza.

Usually when we think of fractions we will be considering a part/whole relationship as in Example 1. In this case, 2 pieces refer to part of the pizza and 3 pieces refer to the whole pizza.

COMMON TERMS

Numerator: In the fraction , 2 is the numerator or the number of pieces.

Denominator: In the fraction , 3 is the denominator, and refers to the size (or denomination) of each piece. The denominator is down under the numerator.

Proper fraction: A fraction in which the numerator is smaller than the denominator.

Example:

Improper fraction: A fraction in which the numerator is larger than the denominator. Example:

Mixed number: A whole number mixed with a fraction.

Example: 2 .

How to change a mixed number into a fraction: Multiply and add.

2 ==

How to change an improper fraction to a mixed number: Divide and subtract.

means "7 divided by 3."

The quotient is 2 and the remainder is 1, so = 2.

Equivalent fractions: Fractions that have the same value. Multiply the fraction by 1 to find equivalent fractions. This means, multiply the numerator and the denominator by the same number.

Example:

Simplest terms: To write a fraction in simplest terms, divide the fraction by 1. This means, divide the numerator and the denominator by the same number.

Example:

Knowing divisibility rules and how to find the prime factorization of a number will help us reduce fractions.