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Fractions
infoWhy this? Mixed numbers and improper fractions provide complementary ways to represent quantities greater than one. Operating fluently with them strengthens exact calculation and supports proportional reasoning in measurement and multi-step problems.
scheduleWhy now? Year 7 secured equivalence and operations with proper and improper fractions. We now extend those methods to mixed-number calculations and fraction-of-an-amount problems before tackling reverse fraction situations and more complex proportional work.
neurologyYou need to know
- In a fraction, the numerator shows how many equal parts are selected and the denominator shows how many equal parts make one whole.
- A proper fraction has a numerator smaller than its denominator, so its value is less than 1.
- An improper fraction has a numerator greater than or equal to its denominator, so its value is 1 or more.
- A mixed number is made of a whole number and a proper fraction, such as `2 \frac{3}{5}`.
- Equivalent fractions have the same value even though they are written with different numerators and denominators.
- To express an improper fraction as a mixed number, divide the numerator by the denominator; the quotient is the whole number and the remainder becomes the numerator of the fractional part.
- To express a mixed number as an improper fraction, multiply the whole number by the denominator and add the numerator, keeping the same denominator.
- When finding a fraction of an amount, the denominator tells you how many equal groups to split the amount into and the numerator tells you how many of those groups to take.
- To find `\frac{a}{b}` of an amount, divide the amount by `b` and then multiply by `a`.
- If a fraction is equivalent to a simpler fraction, the answer should usually be written in its simplest form.
- To add or subtract mixed numbers, the fractional parts must represent equal-sized parts, so the fractions need a common denominator.
- A common denominator is a shared multiple of the denominators, and using the lowest common denominator often makes the calculation simpler.
- When adding mixed numbers, extra fractional parts that make one whole can be regrouped into the whole-number part.
- When subtracting mixed numbers, one whole can be exchanged for a fraction equal to the denominator over the denominator if the fractional part is too small to subtract.
- To multiply mixed numbers, it is usually most efficient to convert them to improper fractions first, then multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.
- To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal, where the numerator and denominator are swapped.
- After multiplying or dividing fractions, an improper fraction answer can be converted back to a mixed number if needed.
- A reciprocal pair multiplies to make 1, for example `\frac{3}{4}` and `\frac{4}{3}`.
rocket_launchYou must be able to
- Find a fraction of an amount by dividing the amount by the denominator and then multiplying by the numerator.
- Convert an improper fraction to a mixed number by dividing the numerator by the denominator and writing the remainder over the original denominator.
- Convert a mixed number to an improper fraction by multiplying the whole number by the denominator, adding the numerator, and keeping the denominator unchanged.
- Add mixed numbers by converting to improper fractions or by using a common denominator, then simplifying and regrouping any fraction greater than 1.
- Subtract mixed numbers by using a common denominator and, when needed, exchanging one whole for an equivalent fraction before simplifying the result.
- Multiply mixed numbers by converting each one to an improper fraction, multiplying numerators and denominators, and cancelling common factors where possible.
- Divide mixed numbers by converting to improper fractions, changing division to multiplication by the reciprocal, and simplifying the answer.
- Simplify fractional answers by dividing the numerator and denominator by their highest common factor and converting improper fractions to mixed numbers when appropriate.
Revision Quiz
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