During this topic you will learn to: Understand the equivalence of fractions. Simplify a fraction.

Change proper fractions to improper fractions. Change improper to proper fractions Add and Subtract fractions Multiply and Divide fractions

1 2 2 6 2 8 49

2 5 4 12 5 15 4

3 9 8 16 30 75 2

3 12 19 76 1 4 4

14 35 25 75 9 18 3

4 8 25 70 33 99 5

98

10

Before we can look at adding fractions we need to get some practice in finding equivalent fractions. So long as you multiply the top and the bottom of a fraction by the same number you will not change its size (because all you are doing is multiplying by 1!) e.g.,
2 5

4 4

8 20

so

2 5

8 20

This is just 1 whole

Match up the fraction on the left with its equivalent on the right.
2 5 3 7 1 19 57 12 28 24

3 4 9 3 8

60 24 64 84 189

An improper fraction is one where the numerator (top number) is bigger than the denominator (bottom number).

This means that there must be more than one whole one.
e.g. =1 = =
3

2
15 4

An improper fraction can also be written as a mixed number. This means a whole number and a fraction. e.g.

=1

= =

2
15 4

=1 =3

2
3 4

If you can find equivalent fractions then simplifying fractions should not be a problem. Give me some equivalent fractions for:

12

18

Which one do you think is the simplest and why?

12

18

Simplifying a fraction just means finding an equivalent fraction with the smallest numbers possible

12

18

To convert an improper fraction into a mixed number:

How many times does the denominator go into the numerator ? This is the whole number part. The remainder is the numerator of the fraction part.

Example:

38 = 9

2 9

How many times does 9 go into 38? What is the remainder?

To convert a mixed number into an improper fraction :

Multiply the whole number by the denominator then add the numerator This is the numerator of the improper fraction The denominator stays the same.

Example:

5 = 7

21 5 + 7 7

26 7

How many sevenths is 3 whole ones?

3 x 7 = 21

What do you think the answer to this is:

We cant just add numerators and denominators or we end up saying 2 halves make a half
1

We know that 2 halves make a whole one:

1 2

1 2

2 2

= 1

All we add are the numerators, the denominator stays the same.

Before we can add fractions we have to make sure the denominators are the same This is where our equivalent fractions come in: 2 5 +
3 6

We have to turn the thirds into sixths

2 3

5 6

4 6

5 6

9 6

This is the easiest operation to do with fractions. Just multiply the numerators to get the numerator of the answer, And multiply the denominators to get the denominator of the answer. e.g.
2 5

3 7

6 35

You can treat division just like multiplication there is just one step to do first. Turn the fraction you are dividing by upside down. Then change the division to a multiplication. e.g.
2 5

3 7

2 5

7 3

14 15