Page 42 - SM Class 5 Inner.cdr

+ 4 % 1 ¼ 3 ÷ ¾
×
Chapter4 6 ½ –

Fractions

What are fractions ?

If we cut an object into smaller parts we need a way of expressing what these parts
are. For example, we can cut a pie into two equal pieces so that there are two

halves. The two halves make up the whole pie.

1 1
We can write this mathematically as : + = 1
2 2

We can also cut the pie into three equal pieces, ie thirds. The three thirds make up
the whole pie. We can write another mathematical expression for this, too.

1 1 1
+ + = 1
3 3 3

This way of expressing a part of a whole mathematically is called a frac tion.

The top number (nu mer a tor) of a frac tion tells how many parts there are.

The bottom number (de nom i na tor) of a frac tion tells how many parts make a
whole.

Every fraction tells us about itself and the original whole it came from.

For example :

2/5 means there were 5 parts in the whole and we have 2 of them.

There are several types of fractions

1. Com mon frac tions (also called proper frac tions). This type of frac tion is smaller
than one but greater than zero : Proper frac tion :

1 2
or (numerator < denominator)
5 3

2. Im proper frac tions are fractions where the top number (numerator) is larger
than the bot tom num ber (de nom i na tor). This means that this type of frac tion is

ac tu ally greater than one : Improper fraction :
5 3
or (numerator > or = denominator)
4 2

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Mathematics In Focus - 5