Fractions — Formidable or Fabulous?

Fractions involve:

• proper fractions
  The top number is smaller than the bottom number. The value of the fraction is less than 1.
  eg., 1/4.
• improper fractions
  The top number is larger than or equal to the bottom number. The value of the fraction is 1 or greater.
  eg., 5/4.
• mixed fractions
  They combine a whole number and a proper fraction.
  eg., 2 1/4.
• adding and subtracting fractions
  To add or subtract fractions the denominators (or bottom numbers) must be the same number. This involves multiplying the top number by whatever you had to multiply the bottom number by to get the common denominator.
  eg., 3/8 + 1/2 = 3/8 + (1 × 4)/(2 × 4) = 3/8 + 4/8 = 7/8.
  (The addition and subtraction of fractions is much harder than multiplying and dividing them.)
• multiplying fractions
  Multiplying fractions simply involves multiplying the two top numbers together and the two bottom numbers together to get the answer.
  eg., 3/8 × 1/2 = (3 × 1)/(8 × 2) = 3/16.
• dividing fractions
  Dividing fractions is almost as simple as multiplying fractions, it involves just one more step. Flip the second fraction upside down and then simply multiply the two top numbers together and the two bottom numbers together to get the answer. 3/8 ÷ 1/2 = 3/8 × 2/1 = (3 × 2)/(8 x 1) = 6/8.

Students can have fun using the Butterfly Method for determining which of two fractions is greater.

Figuring out Fractions

Fraction Worksheets

See our Teaching Resources for Math for Fraction teaching and practice worksheets.

Return to Math Skills Index.

Facing your Fears about Fractions 

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