Section 4.
Understanding
Fractions
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1
Fractions
Fractions are a set of numbers used to describe
parts of whole quantities.
The denominator of a fraction shows the number
of equal parts in the whole.
The numerator shows the number of parts being
talked about or being used.
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 2
Example
Use fractions to represent the shaded part of
each object.
a. b.
Two out of three 2 Five out of eight
5
parts are shaded, or 3 . parts are shaded, or 8 .
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 3
Division Involving the Numbers
One and Zero
A nonzero number divided by itself is 1.
5
5 5 1
5
Zero can never be the divisor in a division problem.
8
8 0
0
Zero may be divided by any number except zero;
the result is always zero. 0
0 7 0
7
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 4
Fractions
A proper fraction is used to describe a quantity
less than 1.
If the numerator is less than the denominator,
the fraction is a proper fraction.
An improper fraction is used to describe a
quantity greater than or equal to 1.
If the numerator is greater than or equal to the
denominator, the fraction is an improper
fraction.
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 5
Example
Identify each as a proper fraction, an improper
fraction, or a mixed number.
a. 7 Improper fraction The numerator is larger
3 than the denominator.
b. 2 Proper fraction The numerator is less than
5 the denominator.
c. 5 1 Mixed number The whole number is added
4 to the proper fraction.
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 6
Procedure to Change an
Improper
Fraction to a Mixed Number
1. Divide the numerator by the denominator.
2. The quotient is the whole number part of the
mixed number.
3. The remainder from the division will be the
numerator of the fraction. The denominator of
the fraction remains unchanged.
remainder
A mixed number is in the form: quotient .
denominator
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 7
Example
Write 14 as a mixed number.
3
4
14 3 14 14 2
Thus, 4
3 12 3 3
2
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 8
Procedure to Change a Mixed
Number to an Improper Fraction
1. Multiply the whole number by the denominator of the
fraction.
2. Add this product to the numerator. The result is the
numerator of the improper fraction. The denominator
does not change.
Improper fraction:
denominator whole number numerator
denominator
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 9
Example
Change 5 2 to an improper fraction.
7
Improper fraction:
denominator whole number numerator
denominator
2 7 5 2 35 2 37
5
7 7 7 7
Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 10