Fractions and parts of a whole

The denominator is the number written below the fraction bar. It shows how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

The numerator is written above the fraction bar, so do not confuse it with the denominator.

Rule: select the bottom number of the fraction.

The numerator is the number written above the fraction bar. It shows how many equal parts are taken.

The denominator is written below the fraction bar, so do not confuse it with the numerator.

Rule: select the top number of the fraction.

The known amount covers as many equal parts as the numerator, the number above the fraction line.

1. Divide the known amount by the numerator to find one part.
2. Multiply one part by the denominator, the number below the line, to find the whole.

For example, if 6 is 2/3 of the whole, one part is 6 ÷ 2 = 3 and the whole is 3 × 3 = 9.

The numerator is the number written above the fraction bar. It shows how many equal parts are taken.

The denominator is written below the fraction bar, so do not confuse it with the numerator.

Rule: select the top number of the fraction.

Both fractions have the same numerator, so the same number of parts is taken in each case. Only the size of those parts is different.

1. Compare the denominators written below the fraction bars.
2. A greater denominator means that the whole is divided into more parts, so each part is smaller.
3. The fraction with the smaller denominator is greater.
4. Place > or < between the fractions, with the wide side of the sign facing the greater fraction.

Rule: when numerators are equal, the fraction with the smaller denominator is greater.

A fraction tells you how many equal parts of the whole are shaded.

1. Count all the equal parts, shaded and white. Put that number below the fraction line.
2. Count only the shaded parts. Put that number above the line.

For example, 2 shaded parts out of 5 give the fraction 2/5.

Equivalent fractions may look different, but they show the same part of a whole.

Imagine half a pizza. You can divide it into 2 pieces and take 1 piece, or divide it into 4 pieces and take 2 pieces. In both cases, you have the same amount of pizza.

1. See how many times the top number of the fraction has been increased.
2. Check the bottom number – it must be increased by the same factor.
3. Choose the fraction in which both numbers were multiplied by the same number.

Example: ¹⁄₂ = ²⁄₄, because both the top and bottom numbers were multiplied by 2.

You cannot change only one number of a fraction or simply add the same number to both numbers.

Both fractions have the same denominator. This means that each whole is divided into parts of the same size.

1. Compare only the numerators written above the fraction bars.
2. The fraction with the greater numerator is greater because it contains more equal parts.
3. Place > or < between the fractions, with the wide side of the sign facing the greater fraction.

Rule: when denominators are equal, the fraction with the greater numerator is greater.

The denominator is the number written below the fraction bar. It shows how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

The numerator is written above the fraction bar, so do not confuse it with the denominator.

Rule: select the bottom number of the fraction.

To find the stated fraction of a number, first find the size of one equal part and then take the required number of parts.

1. Divide the whole number by the denominator of the fraction.
2. Multiply the size of one part by the numerator.

Formula: fraction of a number = whole number ÷ denominator × numerator.