Fractions 

  What is a fraction?

               A fraction is a number that is expressed in the form of a/b.

        Fractions are usually use to represent numbers that are greater than, less than, or equal to 1.

    There are 3 different kinds of fractions; improper fraction, normal fraction, or a mixed number.

  A fraction is also known as a ratio. And if you are interested in learning about ratios then go to

  my friend Aaron's page to learn about ratios.  click here please .

            Example:  1/2         another way to say it is 1 out of 2 

  ALWAYS REMEMBER:  a fraction always have a numerator & a  

                                                denominator.

Words to Remember:

    Numerator: the top half of the a fraction. (the amount you are taking out.)

  Denominator: the bottom half of the fraction. (total amount.)

                     Example:         1       Numerator

                                       ____

               2      Denominator

       VISUAL EXAMPLE:                                                                   

                This pie is cut into 6 pieces and all the pieces are there. Which the fraction will be 6/6 since all 

                the pieces are there. If you took one piece of pie out of the 6 pieces of pie, the fraction will now be 5/6.

                                                                        5        The pieces that are left.

                                                                                    _____

                                          6             The pieces that were there

  Improper Fractions

                                  An improper fraction is created when the numerator is bigger than the denominator.

                                                  Example:   8/2

                            An improper fraction can be turned into a mixed fraction which I will teach you more of a little later.

                   An improper fraction is a fraction that is more than 1. How would you know if a fraction's more or less than 1?

        It's simple see, if the numerator is greater than the denominator then the fraction will be more than 1. But if the numerator

             is less than the denominator then the fraction is less than 1. Also, if the numerator and the denominator are the same amount

        then it will not be greater than or less than 1 but will be equal to 1.

                                        So the next time you see a fraction that has a numerator less than the denominator, don't say it's an

         improper fraction. Unless if the numerator  is greater than the denominator, then you can say that that fraction is an improper

         fraction.

                     How do you reduce improper fractions?

                                                                Reducing improper fractions has the same concept as reducing a regular fraction. It's simple and easy, if you know how to reduce a regular fraction then you will know how to reduce an improper fraction.

          If you don't know how to reduce a regular fraction than go to this sight : http://www.mathsisfun.com/simplifying-fractions.html

    8  ÷ 2 = 4   

  _______                            _______  And since 4 is over one, then you can simplify it to just a whole number , 4. 4 is the same thing as 4/1.

 2  ÷ 2       1

       How to turn an improper fraction into a mix number

              Read how to reduce improper fractions first because you would need to know that before you will learn

         how to turn an improper fraction into a mix number. Let's use 9/2 for an example shall we? Okay, turning 9/2 into a

         mixed number is just like reducing. First, 2 goes into 9 how many times? Approximately 4 right? 4x2=8, which is very close

         to 9 but you can't go over 9 so 8 is good.  So 8 will be known as 8 wholes. But then you still have 1 left over,

        but what are you dividing by? We are dividing by 2 so we but the remainder over 2 which will be 1/2. But wait  !!!!

                                      Don't forget the whole number! The answer will be 8 1/2 or eight and one half.

             VISUAL EXAMPLE:        7    ÷2                 3 (remainder 1)

                                                                     _____                      =     ___                    =    3 remainder 1  = 3 1/2

                                     2    ÷2               1

        Mixed Fractions

             So you kind of got the idea of what a mixed number is from the lesson for improper fractions right? Well incase you still

                 don't know what a mixed number is then this lesson on mixed fractions is very important. A mixed number is a

              fraction that always contain a whole number and a fraction.

           A mixed number is a fraction that represents a number that is greater than one. 

             Example: 3 2/3     2/3 is less than 1, so therefore the fraction get's placed next to the whole number.

            How to turn a mixed number into an improper fraction

                                       Turning a mixed number into an improper fraction is more difficult than the things we've learned recently.

                   There are more steps which stands for more thinking. A mixed number has a few parts;  the whole number and the

                    numerator && denominator of the remaining fraction.  Okay, first you multiply the denominator to the whole number.

                 Then whatever answer you got, add that number with the numerator. After, the answer you get will be the numerator, 

                 and the denominator will stay the same.Got it? Here's an example so you could get a better picture in your head:

  VISUAL EXAMPLE:      2 3/4                                              Formula: denominator x whole number + numerator   

                                                 2= whole number          4 x 2 = 8

                                                 3= numerator                8 + 3= 11  11 will be the numerator 

                                                 4= denominator                         4 was always the denominator so it stays the same.

                          Answer: 11/4

   Congratulations! You now know what fractions are!

         Links:

                   http://www.coolmath4kids.com/fractions/index.html

                   http://www.aaamath.com/fra.html#topic1

          More Practice:

                 http://www.jamit.com.au/worksheets/