Fractions

How many equal parts of a whole

Slice a pizza, and we get fractions:

pie 1/2 pie 1/4 pie 3/8
one/2 one/4 3/8

(One-half)

(Ane-Quarter)

(Three-Eighths)

The top number says how many slices we have.
The lesser number says how many equal slices the whole pizza was cut into.

Have a endeavour yourself:

Equivalent Fractions

Some fractions may look unlike, just are really the same, for example:

iv/viii = two/iv = 1/2
(Four-Eighths) (Ii-Quarters) (Half)
pie 4/8 = pie 2/4 = pie 1/2

It is usually all-time to show an answer using the simplest fraction ( 1/2 in this case ). That is called Simplifying , or Reducing the Fraction

Numerator / Denominator

We telephone call the tiptop number the Numerator, it is the number of parts we have.
Nosotros call the bottom number the Denominator, it is the number of parts the whole is divided into.

Numerator Denominator

Yous merely have to remember those names! (If y'all forget just recall "Downward"-ominator)

Adding Fractions

It is easy to add fractions with the same denominator (same bottom number):

Another instance:


Calculation Fractions with Unlike Denominators

But what almost when the denominators (the bottom numbers) are not the same?

We must somehow brand the denominators the aforementioned.

In this example it is easy, because nosotros know that 1/4 is the aforementioned as two/eight :

There are ii popular methods to make the denominators the same:

  • Least Common Denominator, or
  • Common Denominator

(They both work nicely, employ the i yous adopt.)

Other Things Nosotros Can Exercise With Fractions

We can also:

  • Decrease Fractions
  • Multiply Fractions
  • Carve up Fractions

Visit the Fractions Index to discover out even more.