Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers

Improper fractions and mixed numbers name the same amount

Fractions whose numerators and denominators are the same are equivalent to "1."

Fractions whose numerator is greater than its denominator are called "improper" because the fraction is more easily understandable if it is converted into a mixed number.

If each of the images shown below is one-fourth of a circle, and there are seven of them, then the fraction would be written as "seven fourths":

Four of those fourths could be gathered to form 1 whole and there would be three of the fourths left over. The picture and the "mixed number" would be written like this:

To convert a mixed number into an improper fraction:

The denominator will stay the same.

To find the numerator, multiply the whole number by the denominator of the fraction. Then add the numerator of the original mixed number.

To convert an improper fraction into a mixed number:

Divide the numerator by the denominator. The whole number part of the quotient will be the whole number part of the mixed number, the remainder becomes the numerator, and the denominator stays the same.