What is a Fraction
With integers (whole numbers) we can count how many items we have.
For example, 12 apples, or 3 pies.
But what if we want to take just part of an item, like a slice of a pie? Do we have a number that indicates a part of the whole item? In other words, do we have numbers for one half, one third, and so on?
Yes, definitely, fractions are such numbers. A fraction indicates dividing up one whole thing, such as a pie, into a number of equal parts and taking one or more parts.
Some example fractions:
| 2 | 2 parts out of 5 equal parts; (can also be written as 2/5) | |
| 5 |
| 1 | 1 part out of 4 equal parts; (can also be written as 1/4) | |
| 4 |
| 2 | 2 parts out of 3 equal parts; (can also be written as 2/3) | |
| 3 |
A fraction involves two integers: the number on top is the numerator and the number below is the denominator.
The denominator tells us how many equal parts into which the whole is divided.
The numerator counts how many of such parts to take.
Please remember these words and what they mean.
Let's experiment with taking part of a round pizza.
Congratulations, you have cut the pizza into four equal slices.
What is each slice as a fraction of the whole pizza?
One fourth of a whole pizza is often too big. Let's cut each one fourth slice into two equal parts again.
Now how many equal pieces have we cut the whole pizza into? And what is each slice as a fraction of the whole pizza then?