A fraction is a part of a whole. A penny is a fraction of a dollar. It is 1 of the 100 equal parts of a dollar or 1/100 (one hundredth) of a dollar.
Five days are a fraction of a week. They are 5 of the 7 equal parts of a week or 5/7 of a week Fractions describe part of a number.
Fractions have two parts:
Numerator - tells how many parts you have.
Denominator - tells how many parts in the whole.
Think of nu in numerator as the “Nu” for the number up and d in denominator as the “D” for the number down.
The line between means division.
Fractions are parts or divisions of a whole. The denominator divides the numerator.
Note: Fractions are shown in this form ½ and sometimes this way 1:2
Equivalent fractions are fractions that:
Are equivalent or equal to each other.
Have the same value.
Look different.
May be in lower terms or higher terms.
To add fractions with the same denominator, add only the numerators and put the sum over the denominator.
For example: Add 2/8 + 3/8
To subtract fractions with the same denominator, subtract only the numerators and put the difference over the denominator.
For example: Subtract 5/10 - 3/10 (Write answer in simplest form.)
Proper fractions are fractions that are less than 1.
1/3, 3/4, 4/7, and 5/9 are all examples of proper fractions
The numerator is smaller than the denominator.
Improper fractions are fractions that are equal to or greater than 1.
2/2, 4/4, 6/5 and 12/7 are examples of improper fractions
The numerator of an improper fraction is the same as or larger than the denominator.
A mixed number is made up of a whole number and a fraction.
When mixed numbers are added, answers need to be renamed and put in the simplest form.
In order to subtract a mixed number from a whole number, the whole number needs to be renamed as a mixed number. Make the denominator of its fraction the same as the denominator of the other fraction.
To add or subtract unlike fractions, rename them with the same denominator.
Follow these steps:
1. List the multiples for each denominator and find the least common denominator.
2. Rename the denominators and multiply the numerators.
3. Add or subtract the fractions and then the whole numbers.
4. Write the answer in the simplest form.
Multiplying fractions is very different from adding or subtracting. YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE THE DENOMINATORS THE SAME
It takes lots of practice to remember the different steps.
1. Multiply the numerators.
2. Multiply the denominators.
3. Write the answer in simplest form.
Before you learn to divide fractions, you need to understand the term reciprocal.
Reciprocal means flip the fraction. So the reciprocal of 1/2 would be 2/1.
To solve any division problem that has a fraction or mixed number in it:
1. Change any mixed number or whole number to an improper fraction.
2. Turn the fraction you are dividing by (the second fraction) upside down (reciprocal) and change the division sign to multiplication.
3. Use the shortcut if possible, multiply, and reduce answer to lowest terms.
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