FRACTIONS
Review of Introductory Mathematics
FRACTIONS
This chapter covers the basic operations of addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division using fractions.
EO 1.4
APPLY one of the arithmetic operations of addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division using fractions.
A common fraction, such as
, consists of the numerator 1 and the denominator 3. It is
1
3
referred to as a rational number describing the division of 1 by 3 (division of the numerator by
the denominator).
Proper and Improper Fractions
There are two types of fractions: proper fractions and improper fractions. The value of the
numerator and the denominator determines the type of fraction. If the numerator is less than the
denominator, the fraction is less than one; this fraction is called a proper fraction. If the
numerator is equal to or greater than the denominator, the fraction is called an improper fraction.
Example:
proper fraction
3
8
improper fraction
8
3
improper fraction
3
3
An improper fraction expressed as the sum of an integer and a proper fraction is called a mixed
number.
To write an improper fraction as a mixed number, divide the numerator by the denominator,
obtaining an integer part (quotient) plus a fractional part whose numerator is the remainder of
the division.
MA-01
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