Fractions
Maths: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum, topic 1.4.2
Fractions
Fractions are a kind of division. They are useful for showing parts of numbers or shapes.
Fractions
- A fractions is a part of a number or shape.
- Fractions are written with one number over another and a line between.
- The number below the line is called the denominator.
- The denominator shows how many parts the number or the shape has been cut into.
Denominator
- The denominator shows how many parts the number or the shape has been cut into.
- The parts must be the same size as each other.
- In ⅕, the number or shape has been cut into 5 parts. ⅕ is called one fifth.
Denominator
- The numerator shows how many parts there are out of the total.
- In ⅕ there is one out of the five parts.
- In ⅖ there are two out of the five parts. ⅖ is called two fifths.
Unit fractions
- A fraction with the numerator of 1 is called a unit fraction.
- Here are some unit fractions: ⅓, ¼, ⅕ and ⅒.
- These are a third, a quarter, a fifth and a tenth.
Non-unit fractions
- A fraction with a numerator bigger than 1 is a non-unit fraction.
- Here are some non-unit fractions: ⅔, ⅘, ¾ and 7/10.
- These are two thirds, four fifths, three quarters and seven tenths.
Test yourself on Fractions
What is the fraction ⅓ called?
What is the fraction ⅘ called?
Which part of a fraction tells us how many parts the number or the shape has been cut into?