Topic 4: FRACTIONS

A fraction is part of a whole. The fraction

4 5

can be demonstrated b shadin! 4

portions of a whole that has been split into 5 parts.

4 5

# "

The top number in a fraction is called the numerator and the bottom number is called the denominator. There are three t pes of fractions: a proper fraction has a smaller n$merator than the denominator so represents a portion less than one whole: for instance an improper fraction has a n$merator bi!!er than the denominator so represents a portion more than one whole: for instance
%% # % &

a mixed numeral has a whole n$mber as well as a fraction part for instance & % #
& means the same as & 5. 5

The fraction bar s$ch as in

note: If your calculator has a fraction function then it will have an a b c

& 5

button a bc '

$se

& a bc

# %'

$se

a bc

%. CON()RTIN* I+,RO,)R FRACTIONS TO +I-). N/+)RA0S AN. (IC) ()RSA

Converting a mixed numeral to an improper fraction Examples a1 % % 4
4 4

as the denominator here is 4 then one whole represents so % % 4 2

4 % 5 + = 4 4 4

b1 & % #
# #

as the denominator here is # then each whole represents so & % # 2 c1 & % 3 2 d1 # 4 5 2

3 4 3 5 4 5

# # % " + + = # # # #
% 3

3 4 3 5 5

2 4

%# 3 4 5

5 5

%' 5

To convert the other way: Examples a1 or b1

7 5 %4 4

% whole represents
#r & 4 %4

4 4 4 4 & so there are 5 5 5 left o6er 4 4 4 4 4 %4 so 2 # &4 4

%r # 5 7

di6ide 7 b 5. so

The res$lt is % and # left o6er

7 5

% #5

&. )8/I(A0)NT FRACTIONS

Two fractions that are equivalent represent exactly the same portion of the whole.

% #

& 3

This process either brea9s the whole $p into smaller portions or e:presses the fraction in the simplest or most basic form. If o$ multiply both the n$merator and denominator of a fraction b a n$mber then o$ chop the basic fraction up into smaller portions. Examples a1
%& #& %%< #%< = & 3

;as shown abo6e1

b1

%< #<

The value of the fraction is unchanged because you are multiplying by the equivalent of 1 ;
& %< or 1. & %<

)=$i6alent fractions are often formed when we are addin! and s$btractin! fractions.

#. A..IN* AN. S/>TRACTIN* FRACTIONS

Addin! and s$btractin! fractions is a process of collectin! to!ether like fractions. If the denominators are the same ;li9e fractions1 then ?$st add or subtract the numerators. a1
# & 5 + = 7 7 7

b1

" # 4 = %% %% %%

@hen the denominators are different form equivalent fractions to make the denominators the same. Examples: a1
% % + & %<

First find the common multiples of the denominators. This will let us find the lowest common denominator (L !" & : &A 4A 3A 7A 10A ...... (li#e times tables" %<: 10, &<A #<A B. 10 is the LCD - convert both fractions to 10ths
% % + & %<
= %5 % + & 5 %<

0C. 2 %<A both denominators become %< to make

% C into & %<

5 % + %< %< 3 = %<

m$ltipl top and bottom b 5 now the fractions are like so add the n$merators

b1

# % 4 #

m$ltiples 4: 4A 7A 1!A %3A ..... #: #A 3A 'A 1!A ... %& is the 0C. D convert both fractions to 1!ths

to make to make

# C into m$ltipl top and bottom b # 4 %& % C into m$ltipl top and bottom b 4 # %&

# % 4 #

0C. 2 %& D

## %4 4 # #4 ' 4 = %& %&

Form e=$i6alent fractions to ma9e each denominator 2 %& As soon as the fractions are li9e fractions s$btract the n$merators D

5 %&

c1

7 5 ' 3

0C. 2 %7

so

7 5 ' 3 7& 5# = ' & 3 # %3 %5 %7 %7 % = %7 =

4. SI+,0IFEIN* FRACTIONS
@hen wor9in! o$t a fractions =$estionA the answer sho$ld be presented as a proper fraction e:pressed in its simplest form or as a mi:ed n$meral e:pressed in its simplest form to simplify a fraction divide the numerator and denominator by a common factor " a common factor is a number that divides evenly into both the numerator and denominator # $gain this is equivalent to dividing by 1 so will not change the value of the fraction. Examples a1 the answer to e:ample a1
3 %<

3 can be simplified %< 3 & & is a factor of 3 and %< %< &
5 is a factor of both &< and &5

# 5 = 4 5

b1

&< &5
7< %4<

&< 5 &5 5

c1

%< is a factor of 7< and %4<

7< %< 7 = %4< %< %4

;$s$all when %< or a power of %< is the common factor % no$!ht on the top is cancelled o$t with % no$!ht on the bottom1 7< / 7 = %4< / %4 & 7 4 & is a factor of 7 and %4 = %4 & "

d1

#3 %3

#3 4 ' = %3 4 4

as this answer is an improper fractionA con6ert to a

mi:ed n$meral
' = & %4 4

5. +/0TI,0EIN* FRACTIONS
What it means: %ultiplying fractions means chopping the fraction up. For e:ample a1
% % % % means find of . & & & &

2 2
% % % % of 2 & & & &

% &

what portion of the whole does this piece represent??

% # % # of means find # %< # %<

b1

# %<

% # % # of = # %< # %<

what portion of the whole does this piece represent?? How to do it: %he rule &hen multiplyin' fractions is to multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators. %hen simplify the ans&er if possible. Examples a1
% % % % % = = & & && 4
% # % # # # % = = = # %< # %< #< # %<

b1

or an alternative method here is to cancel or simplify before multiplying out

% # % # #=% % % % = = = # %< # #=% %< % %< %<

&ou are still applying the equivalent fraction process

# #

before rather than after multiplying out. This has the benefit of #eeping the numbers smaller. c1
4 3 ' %7
4 3 4 3 &4 & = = ' %4 ' %4 %&3 & = %& # 3# # = 4 &%

# % = only doing it # %

or
4 5 "

4 3 4 &=& 3 #=& & & 4 = = = ' %4 ' #=# %4 & =" # " &%

d1

note: any whole number can be written as a fraction by using 1 as the denominator.
4 5 " = 4 5 % " = 4 5 &< = = & 3" % " "

e1

# &< 7

# &< 7 %

# &< 7 %

3< & 7 &

#< & 4 &

%5 = " %& &

or

# &< # &< 4 =5 # 5 %5 = = = = " %& 7 % 7 4 =& % & % &

3. .I(I.IN* FRACTIONS
What it means: 'hen dividing fractions you are as#ing how many shares you have a1
5 % 7 4

is as9in! how man one =$arter shares there are in

5 7

5 7 % 4

How many )ach

% 5 s in ??? 4 7

& 5 ths represents a one =$arter shareA so ths represents ?$st o6er & 7 7

shares

b1

% 5 % is as9in! how man fi6e ei!hts shares are in 4 7 4

5 % is a bigger fraction than so the answer will be less than 7 4

one . How to do it: %he rule to divide fractions is that you turn it into a multiply by flippin' the fraction you are dividin' by. Examples a1
5 % 7 4 = 5 4 7 % = 5 4 &< 4 = 7 % 7 4 = 5 = & %& &

; is the same as 4 1
% 5 4 7 = % 7 4 5 = % 7 7 4 = 4 5 &< 4 = & 5

% 4

b1

c1

# 4 %%
5 3 7

# 4 %% %
5 3 % 7 =

# % %% 4
=

# % # = %% 4 44

d1

5 7 % 3

5 7 & =4 5 4 &< = = = 3 &# % 3 & =# %# #

note: to m$ltipl and di6ide mi:ed n$merals o$ m$st first con6ert each fraction to itFs improper form or $se a calc$lator.

Fractions ):ercises
(xercises set 1 Con6ert these mi:ed n$merals to improper fraction form %1 & & " &1 # # 4 #1 % " %% 41 %& 3 %<

(xercise set ! Con6ert these fractions to mi:ed n$meral form %1

%& 5

&1

%3 "

#1

&4 7

41

53 '

(xercise set ) Find the missin! 6al$e to ma9e the fractions e=$i6alent %1
& C = " &7

&1

# C = 5 &5

#1

4 C = ' #3

41

5 C = 3 33

(xercise *et + )6al$ate %1

5 % 3 & %% 5 %5 %&

&1

% & + 7 5

#1

4 & D 5 #

41

# 5 + 4 3

51

(xercise set , Simplif these fractions %1

4 %4

&1

&5 4<

#1

%& %5

41

%7 %&

51

37 #3

(xercise set )6al$ateA !i6in! answers in simplest form %1

% 4 &1 5 " 4 & # 4 3 # #1 41 ' # %& 5 " %<

51

5 %3 31 7

5 7

(xercise set . )6al$ateA !i6in! answers in simplest form %1

& " # %<

&1

% 5 3 3

#1

# % 4 5

41

5 %< '

51 7

%< %#

Fractions answers
*et 1
" " & %3 + + = " " " " %% + " %7 = #1 % " %% = %% %%

%1 & & " =

&1 # # 4 = 41 %& 3 %<

4 4 4 # %5 + + + = 4 4 4 4 4 %& %< + 3 %&3 = = %< %<

*et ! %1
%& = & &5 5

&1

%3 = & &" "

#1

&4 =# 7

41

5" = 3 #' '

*et )
& C = " &7 4 C = #1 ' #3

%1

C27 C 2 %3

# C = 5 &5 5 C = 41 3 33

&1

C 2 %5 C 2 55

*et + %1 0C. 2 3
5 %# 5 # & % = = = 3 & # 3 3 3 # %5 & 7 5 %3 &% + = + = 75 57 4< 4< 4< 4 # & 5 %& %< & D = = 5# #5 %5 %5 %5 ## 5& ' %< %' + = + = = % " %& 4 # 3 & %& %& %& %%4 55 44 &5 %' = = %54 %& 5 3< 3< 3<

&1 0C. 2 4<

#1 0C. 2 %5

41 0C. 2 %&

51 0C. 2 3< *et ,

4 & & = %1 %4 & "

&5 5 5 = &1 4< 5 7

%& # 4 = #1 %5 # 5

41

%7 3 # = = % %& %& 3 &

51

37 & #4 & %" = = = % 7' #3 & %7 & '

*et %1
% 4 % 4 4 = = 5 " 5 " #5

&1

4 & 4& 7 = = ' # ' # &"

#

/% # 4 # 4 # % % = = = #1 /& / # 5 #5 5 %& 5 %
&

3 # 3 & = # # # ' = = = 41 " %< " %< &= 5 " 5 #5

5 5 %3 5 %3 7= 5 & %< %3 = = = = = %< 51 7 7 % 7 7= % % % % %

5 3 5 3 &= 5 %5 31 3 = = = = # #4 7 % 7 % 7 &= 4 4
*et . %1 #1
& " & %< &< = = # %< # " &% # % # 5 %5 = = = # #4 4 5 4 % 4
5 5 %< 5 % 5 5=% % % % % %< = = = = = ' ' % ' %< ' %< 5=& ' & %7 %< 7 %< 7 %# 7 & =4 %# 4 %# 5& = = = = = = %< & 5 %# % %# % %< % %< & =5 % 5 5

&1

% 5 % 3 3 % = = = 3 3 3 5 #< 5

41

51 7