So, what exactly is a fraction? Fractions are used to represent a part of something, specifically equal parts of a whole. Essentially, it's a division operation. For example, to divide a whole into two parts, you can write it mathematically as 1 ÷ 2 = 1/2.
Fractions in Real Life
Imagine you have a pizza and want to divide it into equal parts to share with friends. This pizza is a whole, so it equals 1. Now we want to divide this pizza among four people, so we need to divide the pizza into four equal parts. Each person gets 1/4. The four pieces of pizza together make a whole. Similarly, if we wanted to divide the same pizza among eight people? That's right, each person would get 1/8.
How to Write a Fraction
Now let's explain in detail how to write a fraction. Suppose you have five apples in total, three of which are red. So, the red portion can be written as three-fifths. The number above the fraction line is called the numerator, representing the number of parts or objects we are talking about, which is the number of red apples. The number below the fraction line is called the denominator, representing the total number of objects, which in this case is 5 apples.
Different Types of Fractions
There are different types of fractions.
Zero Fractions, Proper Fractions, Whole Fractions, Improper Fractions, and Mixed Fractions.
| Fraction Type | Definition | Value Range | Example |
| Zero Fractions | Numerator = 0, denominator > 0 | Exactly 0 | 0/2, 0/50, 0/100 |
| Proper Fractions | Numerator < Denominator | Between 0 and 1 | 1/4, 3/5, 5/6 |
| Whole Fractions | Numerator = Denominator | Exactly 1 | 2/2, 45/45, 75/75 |
| Improper Fractions | Numerator > Denominator | Greater than 1 | 5/3, 45/30, 67/45 |
| Mixed Fractions | Whole number + Proper fraction | Greater than 1 | 2(1/2), 3(3/5), 5(2/3) |
Rules of Fractions
1. If the numerator of a fraction is zero, then the value of the fraction is always zero, regardless of the denominator.
2. If the denominator is greater than the numerator, then the value of the fraction will be greater than zero but less than one.
3. If the numerator and denominator are the same, then the value of the fraction is always 1.
4. The denominator of a fraction can never be zero.
5. If the numerator is greater than the denominator, then the value of the fraction is greater than 1.
Summary
Try doing math problems involving fractions. While practicing, you can use our free pre-algebra solver tool to verify your answers. Thank you for reading our content. For more math concepts, please read our other articles.
