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Understanding Fractions

≈ 15 min
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A fraction names one or more equal parts of a whole. It is written with two numbers:

numeratordenominator35\frac{\text{numerator}}{\text{denominator}} \qquad \frac{3}{5}

The denominator (bottom) says how many equal parts the whole is split into; the numerator (top) says how many of those parts we are talking about. A unit fraction has a numerator of 11, like 14\frac{1}{4} — a single part.

Worked example. A vetkoek is cut into 66 equal parts and you eat 11. What fraction have you eaten, and what fraction is left?

Eaten: 16\frac{1}{6} (one of six equal parts). Left: 55 parts of six, or 56\frac{5}{6}.

A chocolate slab is broken into 44 equal pieces. One piece is what fraction of the slab?

In the fraction 35\frac{3}{5}, which number is the denominator?

Write the fraction for "three out of eight equal parts" (use a slash, like a/ba/b).

Three friends share a pizza into equal parts, one part each. What fraction does each friend get?