1.2.1

Fractions

Test yourself

Fractions

You need to know how to multiply, divide, add and subtract fractions.

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Multiplying fractions

  • To multiply two fractions together, multiply the tops together and the bottoms together.
  • Remember to cancel down as much as possible by dividing top and bottom by the same number.
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Dividing fractions

  • To divide a fraction by another fraction, flip the second fraction and then multiply.
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Adding or subtracting fractions

  • To add or subtract two fractions first write them with the same denominator and then add or subtract the top numbers only.

Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

Mixed numbers and improper fractions are both greater than 1.

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Improper fractions

  • An improper fraction has a numerator (top number) which is larger than the denominator (bottom number).
    • E.g. 9 is larger than 7, so 97\frac{9}{7} is an improper fraction.
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Mixed numbers

  • A mixed number contains both a whole number (an integer) and a normal fraction.
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Improper fraction to mixed number

  • What is 269\frac{26}{9} written as a mixed number?
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Improper fraction to mixed number

  • First work out how many times the denominator will go into the numerator.
    • 9 goes into 26 two times - this is the whole number part.
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Improper fraction to mixed number

  • The remainder is 26 − 18 = 8.
    • So the fraction part is 89\frac{8}{9}.
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Mixed number to improper fraction

  • What is 325\frac{2}{5} written as an improper fraction?
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Mixed number to improper fraction

  • Multiply the whole number by the denominator.
    • Add this amount to the numerator.

Jump to other topics

1Numbers

2Equations, Formulae & Identities

3Sequences, Functions & Graphs

4Geometry

5Vectors & Transformation Geometry

6Statistics & Probability

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