Maths Chapter 07: Fractions

A fraction is a number representing a part of a whole. The whole may be a single object or a group of objects.

When expressing a situation of counting parts to write a fraction, it must be ensured that all parts are equal.

In 5/7, 5 is called the numerator and 7 is called the denominator.

Fractions can be shown on a number line. Every fraction has a point associated with it on the number line.

In a proper fraction, the numerator is less than the denominator. The fractions, where the numerator is greater than the denominator are called improper fractions. An improper fraction can be written as a combination of a whole and a part, and such fraction then called mixed fractions.

Each proper or improper fraction has many equivalent fractions. To find an equivalent fraction of a given fraction, we may multiply or divide both the numerator and the denominator of the given fraction by the same number.

A fraction is said to be in the simplest (or lowest) form if its numerator and the denominator have no common factor except 1.