Fraction (mathematics)

A cake with one quarter removed. The remaining ³⁄₄ of the cake has been divided into two pieces.

A fraction is a number that shows how many equal parts there are. When we write fractions, we show one number with a line above another number, for example, $\tfrac{1}{4}$ or ¹⁄₄ or 1/4. The top number tells us how many parts there are, the second number tells us the total number of parts.

Examples

1. For example, a room where $\tfrac{1}{4}$ of the people are girls, has 1 girl for every 4 people.
2. Think of a cake made of 4 equal parts. Each is 1 part of 4. In maths, you write this as $\tfrac{1}{4}$, and it is called a "quarter". 2 parts of the cake (i.e. 2 quarters) is written $\tfrac{2}{4}$, and this is also known as 1/2, half.

Mathematical fractions

A fraction is a mathematical expression relating two quantities or numbers, one divided by the other. The numbers may be whole numbers (or integers) – this is a rational number. For example, $\tfrac{1}{2}$ is a fraction. They can also be polynomials – this is a rational function.

Mathematically, a fraction is a quotient of numbers, representing the number's value when the numerator is divided by the denominator (lower number). Thus $\tfrac{1}{2}$ means one divided by two, or, in decimals, 0.5.

To find $\tfrac{1}{2}$ of $\tfrac{1}{2}$, the denominators are multiplied. That means: denominator 2 multiplied by 2 equals 4 or: $\tfrac{1}{2}$ x $\tfrac{1}{2}$ = $\tfrac{1}{4}$ or: 0.5 x 0.5 = 0.25.

(In this case “$\tfrac{1}{2}$ of” means mathematically "multiplication".)

To find $\tfrac{1}{2}$ divided by $\tfrac{1}{2}$, multiply $\tfrac{1}{2}$ by the reciprocal of $\tfrac{1}{2}$, which is 2. That answer is 1.

Other websites

• Curricula for Creating Fractions
• Curricula for Teaching about Fractions
• Teaching Fractions: New Methods, New Resources
• Worksheets:Fractions
• Interactive and dynamic worksheets to visualize fractions
• Worksheets: Identifying Fractions
• Worksheets: Improper Fractions to Mixed Numbers
• Curricula for Teaching about Equivalent Fractions
• Free online quizzes about Fractions
• Endless Examples & Exercises for fractions
• Printable fraction worksheets for elementary grades.