LESSON 1: FRACTION

1. What is a fraction? Fraction = numerator

denominator
A fraction consists of a numerator (part) on top of a
denominator (total) separated by a horizontal line.
For example, the fraction of the circle which is shaded is:

2 (parts shaded)
4 (total parts)

In the square on the right, the fraction shaded is 3

and
8
the fraction unshaded is 5
8

2. Equivalent Fractions – Multiplying

The three circles on the right each have

equal parts shaded, yet are represented
by different but equal fractions. These
fractions, because they are equal, are
called equivalent fractions. 1 2 4
2 4 8

Any fraction can be changed into an equivalent fraction

by multiplying both the numerator and denominator by the same number

1 x2 2 1 x4= 4
= or so 12 4
2 x2 4 2 x4 8 2 4 8

Similarly
5 x 2 = 10 or 5 x 3 = 15 5 = 10 = 15
9 x2 18 so
9 x 3 27 9 18 27

You can see from the above examples that each fraction has an infinite number of fractions
that are equivalent to it.
3. Equivalent Fractions – Dividing (Reducing)

Equivalent fractions can also be created if both the 441

numerator and denominator can be divided by the 8 4 2
same number (a factor) evenly.
This process is called “reducing a fraction” by 27  9  3
dividing a common factor (a number which divides 81 9 9
into both the numerator and denominator evenly).

551
30 5 6
6 2 3
 
10 2 5

4. Simplifying a Fraction (Reducing to its Lowest Terms)

It is usual to reduce a fraction until it can’t be reduced

any further.
A simplified fraction has no common factors which will
divide into both numerator and denominator.
Notice that, since 27 and 81 have a common factor of 9, 27  9  3
81 9 9

331
9 3 3

27  27  1
81 27 3

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we find that 3 is an equivalent fraction.
9
But this fraction has a factor of 3 common to both
numerator and denominator.
So, we must reduce this fraction again. It is difficult to
see, but if we had known that 27 was a factor (divides
into both parts of the fraction evenly), we could have
arrived at the answer in one step

e.g
. 881 45  15  3
24 8 3 60 15 4

Page 3
5. EXERCISE 1: Introduction to Fractions

a) Find the missing part of these equivalent fractions x2

Example: 3 =
5 10

x2

Since 5 x 2 = 10,
multiply the numerator
by 2, also.

So, 3 = 6
5 10
 1) 2 = 2) 3= 3) 5=
3 6 4 12 8 40

4) 1 =
5) 2 = 7 =
16 32 6.)
15 45 9 27

7 3=
7) = 8)
10 100 4 44

b) Find the missing part of these equivalent fractions.

÷5

8 5 =
1) = 24 = Example:
16 4 2) 10 2
27 9
÷5

6 25
3) = 4) = Since 10 ÷ 5 = 2 divide
10 5 35 7 the numerator by 5, also.

So, 5 = 1
20 10
5) = 90 = 2
6)
30 6 100 50

c) Simplify the following fractions (reduce to lowest terms).

1) 9 2) 8 3) 6 4) 15
12 12 8 20
5) 20 6) 14 7) 8 8) 24
25 21 16 36
9) 66 10) 18
99 30
B. TYPES OF FRACTIONS

1. Common Fractions

A common fraction is one in which the numerator is less than the denominator
(or a fraction which is less than the number 1). A common fraction can also be called a proper fraction.
 e.g. 1, 3, 88 8
are all common fractions.
2 4 , 15
93

2. Fractions that are Whole Numbers

Some fractions, when reduced, are really whole numbers (1, 2, 3, 4… etc).
Whole numbers occur if the denominator divides into the numerator evenly.

e.g. 8 is the same as 8 ÷ 4 = 2 or 2

4 4 4 1
30 is the same 30 ÷ 5 = 6 or 6
as 5 5 1
5

So, the fraction 30

is really the whole number 6.
5
Notice that a whole number can always be written as a fraction with a denominator of 1.

10
e.g. 10 =
1

3. Mixed Numbers

A mixed number is a combination of a whole number and a common fraction.

3
e.g. 2 (two and three-fifths)
5
2
27 (twenty-seven and two-ninths)
9
3 1
9 = 9 (always reduce fractions)
6 2
4. Improper Fractions

An improper fraction is one in which the numerator is larger than the

denominator.
3
From the circles on the right, we see that 1 (mixed number)
4
 is the same as 7 (improper fraction). 1 43 = 7
4
4
An improper fraction, like 7 , can be changed to a mixed number by
4
dividing the denominator into the numerator and expressing the 1
remainder (3) as the numerator. 7 = 4 7 = 13
4 4
16 4
e.g. 1 14 2
5 =3 29 = 3 = 4 3
5 5 3
8 3

A mixed number can be changed to an improper fraction by changing

the whole number to a fraction with the same denominator as the
common fraction.
3 1
2 = 10 3 10 = 90 1
5 5 and 5 9 9 and 9
= 13 =
91
5 9

A simple way to do this is to multiply the whole number by the denominator,

and then add the numerator.

5
e.g. 4 =
4x95 36  5 41
9 = 9 = 9
2 9
10 = 10 x 7  2 70  2 72
7 = 7 = 7
7

5. Simplifying fractions

All types of fractions must always be simplified (reduced to lowest terms).

e.g. 6 2 5 1
= , 2 =2 , 27 = 3 = 1 1
9 3 25 5 18 2 2

Note that many fractions can not be reduced since they have no common factors.

e.g. 17 , 4 , 18
21 9 37
6. EXERCISE 2 : Types of Fractions

a) Which of the following are common fractions (C), whole numbers (W), mixed numbers (M)
or improper fractions (I)?
 2 4 7
1) 2) 3 3) 4) 8 5) 24
3 5 5 8 2
8 3
6) 5 7) 2 8) 25 24
9) 10) 12
19 3 24 25 12

b) Change the following to mixed numbers:

7
1) 2) 18 70
5 11 3) 61 4) 12
5 5) 100
99 6) 25
2

c) Change the following to improper fractions:

1 3 2 1 4 3
1) 2 2) 6 3) 8 4) 11 5) 9 6) 4
5 8 3 5 5 4

d) Simplify the following fractions:

28
1) 2) 80 3) 2
12
4) 5
27
5) 25 6) 90
40 10 18 54 15 12
C. COMPARING FRACTIONS
In the diagram on the right, it is easy to see that 7
is larger
8
than 3 (since 7 is larger than 3).
8
However, it is not as easy to tell that 7 is larger than 5 .
8 6
7 = 3
In order to compare fractions, we must have the same (common) 8 8

denominators. This process is called

“Finding the Least Common Denominator” and is usually

abbreviated as finding the LCD or LCM (lowest common multiple).

Which is larger: 7 or 5 ?
8 6

In order to compare these fractions, we must change both fractions 8x1 = 8

to equivalent fractions with a common denominator. (6 doesn’t divide into 8)
To do this, take the largest denominator (8) and examine multiples
of it, until the other denominator (6) divides into it. 8 x 2 = 16
Notice that, when we multiply 8 x 3, we get 24, which 6 divides (6 doesn’t divide into 16)
into.
Now change the fractions to 24th s. 8 x 3 = 24 LCD

7 = 21 5 = 20
When we change these fractions to equivalent fractions with an 8 24 6 24
LCD of 24, we can easily see
that 7 is larger than 5 since 21 is greater than 20
8 6 24 24 .
Which is larger: 4 or 5 ?
9 12
Examine multiples of the larger denominator (12) until the smaller 12 x 1 = 12
denominator divides into it. This tells us that the LCD is 36. 12 x 2 = 24
Now, we change each fraction to equivalent fractions with the LCD 12 x 3 = 36 (LCD)
of 36. LCD is 36.

x4 x3
4 = 16 4 5
5 = 15 So, is larger than
9 36 12 36 9 12
x4 x3

13 or
Which is larger: 4 or 11 ?
5 15 12

Find the LCD by examining multiples of 15. Notice that, when we 15 x 1 = 15

multiply 15 x 4, we find that 60 is the number that all denominators 15 x 2 = 30
divide into. 15 x 3 = 45
15 x 4 = 60 (LCD)

x12 x4 x5
4 13 = 52
= 48
60
11 55
12 = 60
5 15 60
x12 x4 x5

So, 11
is the largest fraction.
12
 Which is larger: 7 or 13 ?
9 18

Notice that one denominator (9) divides into the other denominator (18). This means that
 the LCD = 18 and we only have to change one fraction  to an equivalent fraction.
7


9

x2
7 14
= So, 7 is larger than 13
9 18 9 18
x2

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1. EXERCISE 3: Comparing Fractions

Which is the largest fraction? (find LCD first)

7 6 9
1) or 2) 1 or 18 4 or 9
3)
13 13 10 10 5 10

3 4 1
4) 5 6 7
12 5) 5 o 6) or
11 or 12
or r 7 2
13 8

2 4 3
7) or 11 or 5 9) 1 or 3
3 15 8) 12or 4 16
9 8
D. ADDING FRACTIONS

There are four main operations that we can do with numbers: addition ( + ), subtraction ( – ),
multiplication ( x ), and division ( ÷ ).
In order to add or subtract, fractions must have common denominators.
This is not required for multiplication or division.
1. Adding with Common Denominators

To add fractions, if the denominators are the same, we simply add 1

the numerators and keep the same denominators. + 2 = 3
4 4 4
e.g.
Add 1 and 5
12 12

Since the denominators are common, simply add the numerators. 1+5= 6
Notice that we must reduce the answer, if possible. 12 12 12
= 12

2. Adding When One Denominator is a Multiple of the Other

x3
Add 2 5 2 6
9 = 27
27
x3
and 9
Notice that the denominators are not common. Also notice that 27 is
a multiple of 9 (since 9 x 3 = 27). This means that the LCD = 27
(see the last example in “Comparing Fractions”).

2 5
9 + 27 = 6 + 5
27 27
= 11
27
3. Adding Any Fraction

7 + 13 = 35 + 52
 12 15 60 60
Add 7 and 13
12 15
= 87
60

We must find a common denominator by examining multiples of the = 1 920

largest denominator. We find that the LCD = 60.

3
Add 1 5 and 2
6 8
When adding mixed numbers, add the whole numbers and the
fractions separately. Find common denominators and add. 1 65 = 1 24
20
3 9
+ 2 = 2
8 24

29
total equals 3
If an improper fraction occurs in the answer, change it to a common 24
fraction by doing the following. 29 5
3 =3+1
24 24
= 4 524

4. The Language of Addition

1 + 2 CAN BE WORDED
2 3

1 2
plus 1 2 1 1 2
2 3 and total an 2 sum and
2 2 3
of d of
3 2 3

addition
of 1 2 1 2 1 2
and combined with more than (or greater than)
2 3 2 3 2 3

Note: All of these can be worded with the fractions in reverse order:

e.g.

2 1 1 2
plus is the same as plus
3 2 2 3
5. EXERCISE 4: Adding Fractions

a) Add the following:

 1
1) + 2 2) 4 3
5 5 5 + 5
4
3) + 2 4) 3 3 3
9 4 + 4 + 4
9

b) Find the sum of:

2
1) + 1 2) 1 3
3 9 2 + 8
1
3) + 5 4) 2 4
4 16 3 + 15

c) Add the following:

1) 1 1 2) 9 2 + 1
32 + 44 3 36

1
3) 8 1 + 4 4 4) 2 3 + 6
2 5 4 2
3
5) 4 1 + 6 5 6) 6 1 + 8
3 6 3 4
4
7) 7 2 + 8) 8 2 + 6 1 + 13
3 5 3 4 8

d) Evaluate the following:

2 3 5 3
1) and 2) total of and
3 7 6 8
1 1 3 5
3) plus 4) greater than
2 5 2 7
5
5) combined 3 1 3
6) sum of and
with 8 6 14
12