Unit 1: Common Fractions

Topic A: Introducing Common Fractions

This unit gives you the background details that you need for working with common fractions.

Parts of Common Fractions

Common fractions are written with two numbers, one above the other, with either a straight or slanted line in between. The straight-line style is the one used most.

A picture of a common fraction, in which the numerator is 4 and the denominator is 5.

The denominator is the bottom number. It tells how many equal parts are in the whole thing. The numerator is the top number. It tells how many of the equal parts we are dealing with.

Example A

A bunch of four bananas next to the empty peel of another banana.

The whole thing is the bunch of bananas. The whole thing has 5 equal parts (the bananas). The denominator is 5.

How many bananas have been eaten? 1

What fraction of the bananas have been eaten? [latex]\tfrac{1}{5}[/latex] of bananas.

Example B

An standard twelve-egg egg carton is open, showing that only seven eggs remain inside the carton.

The whole thing is a carton of one dozen eggs. One dozen has 12 equal parts, so if we are talking about the carton, the denominator is 12.

How many eggs are still in the carton? 7

What fraction of the eggs are left? [latex]\tfrac{7}{12}[/latex] of the eggs.

A fraction is always looking at things as parts of a whole. In the previous example of the eggs, the whole is 12 eggs. The part is the 7 eggs that are left. 7 is part of the whole of 12.

Example C

A circle cut into eight equal segments. Half of the segments are blank, while half are coloured in with pizza.

This pizza is one whole pizza. The pizza is cut into 8 pieces. This means the whole is 8. How many parts are left? (The pieces that are shaded are the ones left.) Write a fraction of how many pieces of pizza are left.

The amount left over can be shown as a fraction: [latex]\tfrac{4}{8}[/latex]

Example D

A circle cut into twelve equal segments. Seven of the segments are blank, while five of the segments are shaded blue.

It is Peter’s 82nd birthday. There were 7 people, including Peter, at the party. Everyone wants a small piece of cake, so Kathleen cut the cake into 12 equal parts. This means the whole is 12. There will be some left over.

The amount left over can be shown as a fraction: [latex]\tfrac{5}{12}[/latex]

Example E

An octagon cut into eight equal segments. Five of the segments are blank, while three of the segments are shaded pink.

Sue made a strawberry pie to share with her family of 5. The pie was cut into 8 equal parts. This means the whole is 8. The kids are excited because there will be parts left over.

The fraction showing what amount of pie is left is: [latex]\tfrac{3}{8}[/latex]

Exercise 1

Look at the fraction below. Fill in the blank labels with the four terms you are given:

  • Numerator
  • Denominator
  • Whole
  • Fraction

A picture of the common fraction 1 over 5. Four blank boxes point to different parts of the fraction. One box points to the 1, two boxes point to the 5, and one box points to 1 over 5 as a whole.

Answers to Exercise 1

A picture of the common fraction 1 over 5. The 1 is labelled "numerator," the five is labelled "denominator" and "whole," and the 1/5 as a whole is labelled "fraction."

Writing Common Fractions

Exercise 2

Each shape drawn here is a whole. The shapes have been divided into parts.

  1. Ask yourself, “How many equal parts in the whole?” That number is the denominator.
  2. Count the number of parts that are shaded; that is the numerator.
  3. Write the common fraction to describe the shaded portion of each shape.

Here is an example:A square split into four equal segments. One is blank, and three are shaded green.

  1. How many parts make the whole? 4
  2. How many parts are shaded? 3
  3. Fraction: [latex]\tfrac{3}{4}[/latex]

 

  1. A rectangle split into eight equal segments. Three are blank, and five are shaded blue.
    1. How many parts make the whole?
    2. How many parts are shaded?
    3. Fraction:

     

  2. A rectangle split into five equal segments. Three are blank, and two are shaded green.
    1. How many parts make the whole?
    2. How many parts are shaded?
    3. Fraction:

     

  3. A triangle split into two equal segments. One is blank, the other is shaded blue.
    1. How many parts make the whole?
    2. How many parts are shaded?
    3. Fraction:

Answers to Exercise 2

  1. Square.
    1. 4
    2. 3
    3. [latex]\tfrac{3}{4}[/latex]
  2. Rectangle.
    1. 8
    2. 5
    3. [latex]\tfrac{5}{8}[/latex]
  3. Rectangle.
    1. 5
    2. 2
    3. [latex]\tfrac{2}{5}[/latex]
  4. Triangle.
    1. 2
    2. 1
    3. [latex]\tfrac{1}{2}[/latex]

Exercise 3

Now draw some fractions.

Example: Draw the fraction [latex]\tfrac{1}{2}[/latex] in a circle:

A circle split into two equal segments. One is blank, the other is shaded blue.

  1. Draw [latex]\tfrac{1}{4}[/latex] in a circle:
  2. Draw [latex]\tfrac{1}{3}[/latex] in a circle (here is a hint below):
    A circle with three lines that meet in the middle to produce three equal parts. If the circle was a clock, the lines would start at 4, 8, and 12.
  3. Draw [latex]\tfrac{1}{2}[/latex] in the rectangle:
    A blank rectangle, approximately five times as long as it is tall.
  4. Draw [latex]\tfrac{2}{4}[/latex] in the rectangle:
    A blank rectangle, approximately five times as long as it is tall.
  5. Draw [latex]\tfrac{4}{8}[/latex] in the rectangle:
    A blank rectangle, approximately five times as long as it is tall.
  6. What do you see in common with the three last boxes you just drew?

Answers to Exercise 3

  1. A circle split into four equal segments. Three segments are blank, while the other is shaded grey.
  2. A circle split into three equal segments. Two segments are blank, while the other is shaded grey.
  3. A rectangle split into two equal segments. One segment is blank, the other is shaded grey.
  4. A rectangle split into four equal segments. Two segments are blank, while the other two are shaded grey.
  5. A rectangle split into eight equal segments. Four segments are blank, while the other four are shaded grey.
  6. All the shaded spaces are equal

Reading Common Fractions

You can read fractions in a few different ways:

  • [latex]\tfrac{1}{2}[/latex] can be called:
    • One over two
    • One half
  • [latex]\tfrac{1}{4}[/latex] can be called:
    • One over four
    • One fourth
    • One quarter
  • [latex]\tfrac{3}{4}[/latex] can be called:
    • Three over four
    • Three fourths
    • Three quarters
  • [latex]\tfrac{1}{3}[/latex] can be called:
    • One over three
    • One third
Did you notice that the fractions with a denominator of four have an extra name? Do they seem familiar? No other fractions have a third name.

A picture of a common fraction, in which the numerator is 4 and the denominator is 5.

Remember: The numerator is read as a number.

The denominator is read with a special ending on the end of the numeral. The ending is usually th or ths as it was in decimals, but sometimes we use a different word. (These are called ordinal numbers).

How to read denominators
If the denominator is… Read…
2 half
3 third
4 fourth or quarter
5 fifth
6 sixth
7 seventh
8 eighth
9 ninth
10 tenth
22 twenty-second

Add the “s” if the numerator is 2 or more. So [latex]\tfrac{2}{3}[/latex] is read “two-thirds.”

Note that the usual practice is to put a hyphen (-) between the words when you write them out.

  • [latex]\tfrac{1}{2}[/latex] is usually read “one-half.”
  • [latex]\tfrac{2}{2}[/latex]is read “two-halves.”
  • [latex]\tfrac{3}{4}[/latex] is read as “three-quarters” or “three-fourths.”

Exercise 4

Look back again at Exercise 2 and write down the word names for your answers.

Example: [latex]\tfrac{3}{4}[/latex] – three quarters or three-fourths

  1. [latex]\dfrac{3}{4}[/latex]
  2. [latex]\dfrac{5}{8}[/latex]
  3. [latex]\dfrac{2}{5}[/latex]
  4. [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex]
  5. [latex]\dfrac{2}{4}[/latex]
  6. [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex]

Answers to Exercise 4

  1. Three quarters or three-fourths
  2. Five-eighths
  3. Two-fifths
  4. One quarter or one-fourth
  5. Two quarters or two-fourths
  6. One-third

Applying Common Fractions

We make common fractions out of many things in our lives. For example,

  • I got 13 out of 15 on my English test. The score is [latex]\tfrac{13}{15}[/latex].
  • The baseball pitcher struck out 2 of the 6 batters in the inning. [latex]\tfrac{2}{6}[/latex] of the batters were struck out.
  • Three of the eggs in that dozen are cracked. [latex]\tfrac{3}{12}[/latex] of the eggs are cracked.
  • Finish your vegetables. I gave you just 8 pieces of carrot, and you have only eaten 4 of them! [latex]\tfrac{4}{8}[/latex] of the carrots are eaten.

Exercise 5

Answer the questions using a common fraction.

  1. Jill walks for 20 minutes of the 30 minute lunch break. What fraction of her lunch break does Jill walk?
    Answer: [latex]\dfrac{20}{30}[/latex]
  2. The test was scored out of 25. Kim got 20 marks. Write his score.
  3. The restaurant has 12 tables. Each waiter looks after 6 of them. What fraction of the tables does each waiter look after?
  4. The new litter of puppies is a big one—10 pups. Three of the pups have floppy ears. What fraction of the puppies have floppy ears?
  5. Beryl planted 3 dozen tulip bulbs last fall. A mole ate one dozen of them before they flowered. That mole is in trouble!! What fraction of the tulips did the mole eat?
  6. Kay’s raisin cookie recipe uses 5 cups of flour altogether. Kay always puts in 2 cups of whole wheat flour and 3 cups of white flour. What fraction of the flour that she uses is whole wheat?

Answers to Exercise 5

  1. [latex]\dfrac{20}{30}[/latex]
  2. [latex]\dfrac{20}{25}[/latex]
  3. [latex]\dfrac{6}{12}[/latex]
  4. [latex]\dfrac{3}{10}[/latex]
  5. [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex]
  6. [latex]\dfrac{2}{5}[/latex]
These common fractions that you have been writing are called proper fractions. Proper fractions are fractions where the numerator is smaller than the denominator.

How Do We Compare Common Fractions?

Example F

Two squares split into four equal segments each. For the first, three segments are blank, and one is shaded red. For the second, two segments are blank, and two are shaded red.

  1. Which square has more shaded parts?
    The second square has more shaded parts.
  2. Which is larger: [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex] or [latex]\dfrac{2}{4}[/latex]?
    [latex]\tfrac{2}{4}[/latex] is larger because it fills in more parts of the square.

Review:

  • Greater than > Less than
  • Less than < Greater than

Example G

Two circles split into four equal segments . The first circle has 3 blank segments and 1 shaded segment. The second circle has 1 blank segment and 3 shaded segments.

  1. Which circle is shaded more? (Hint: Look at the squares above to help answer this question.)
  2. Write the fractions for both drawings: [latex]\dfrac{1}{4} and \dfrac{3}{4}[/latex]
  3. Which fraction is larger? Place a symbol (< or >) in the space above to show your answer.
    [latex]\dfrac{1}{4} < \dfrac{3}{4}[/latex]

Exercise 6

Compare fractions.

  1. A rectangle split into six equal segments.
    A rectangle split into six equal segments.

    1. Shade [latex]\tfrac{2}{6}[/latex] and [latex]\tfrac{5}{6}[/latex].
    2. Circle the fraction that is larger.
    3. Write a mathematical sentence stating which fraction is larger (use < or >).

     

  2. A circle split into six equal segments.
    A circle split into six equal segments.

    1. Shade [latex]\tfrac{4}{6}[/latex] and [latex]\tfrac{3}{6}[/latex].
    2. Circle the fraction that is larger.
    3. Write a mathematical sentence stating which fraction is larger (use < or >).  

     

  3. A rectangle split into six equal segments.
    A rectangle split into six equal segments.

    1. Shade [latex]\tfrac{2}{6}[/latex] and [latex]\tfrac{1}{6}[/latex].
    2. Circle the fraction that is larger.
    3. Write a mathematical sentence stating which fraction is larger (use < or >). 

Answers to Exercise 6

  1. [latex]\dfrac{2}{6} < \dfrac{5}{6}[/latex]
  2. [latex]\dfrac{4}{6} > \dfrac{3}{6}[/latex]
  3. [latex]\dfrac{2}{6} > \dfrac{1}{6}[/latex]

When comparing fractions: As the numerator gets larger and the denominator stays the same, the fraction gets larger.

Example: [latex]\dfrac{3}{10} < \dfrac{7}{10}[/latex]

Exercise 7

Use the < or > symbols to show which fraction is larger.

  1. [latex]\dfrac{3}{4}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex]
  2. [latex]\dfrac{5}{6}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{1}{6}[/latex]
  3. [latex]\dfrac{9}{10}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{1}{10}[/latex]
  4. [latex]\dfrac{3}{8}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{5}{8}[/latex]

Answers to Exercise 7

  1. >
  2. >
  3. >
  4. <

Exercise 8

Show which is larger by using < or >.

  1. One-fourth                     Three-fourths
  2. Five-sixths                     Four-sixths
  3. Five-ninths                     Two-ninths
  4. Seven-sevenths                     Three-sevenths

Answers to Exercise 8

  1. <
  2. >
  3. >
  4. >

Exercise 9

Compare fractions with the same denominator. Put the fractions in order from smallest to largest.

  1. [latex]\dfrac{3}{4}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{2}{4}[/latex]
  2. [latex]\dfrac{6}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{2}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{3}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{5}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{4}{7}[/latex]
  3. [latex]\dfrac{50}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{23}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{7}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{360}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{274}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{158}{361}[/latex]

Answers to Exercise 9

  1. [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{2}{4}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{3}{4}[/latex]
  2. [latex]\dfrac{1}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{2}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{3}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{4}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{5}{7}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{6}{7}[/latex]
  3. [latex]\dfrac{7}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{23}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{50}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{158}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{274}{361}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{360}{361}[/latex]

Using a Number Line to Compare Fractions

Using a number line is another way to look at how numbers compare to each other. Fractions can also be plotted on a number line. The number line is numbered 0 to 2. The section between 0 and 1 is split into fractions.

Example H

Draw a line to connect the fractions listed to the fractions on the number line.

A number line from 0 to 2, split into one-quarter increments. The fractions three over four, one over four, and two over four are below the number line, and have dotted lines connecting them to their corresponding place on the number line.

Exercise 10

Draw a line between the following fractions and the fractions on the number line.

  1. [latex]\hspace{3.5cm}\dfrac{2}{3}\hspace{1cm}[/latex] [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex]A number line from 0 to 2, split into one-third increments. The fractions one over three and two over three are written under the corresponding place on the number line.
  2. [latex]\hspace{3.5cm}\dfrac{6}{8}\hspace{0.5cm}[/latex] [latex]\dfrac{2}{8}\hspace{0.5cm}[/latex] [latex]\dfrac{5}{8}\hspace{0.5cm}[/latex] [latex]\dfrac{4}{8}\hspace{0.5cm}[/latex] [latex]\dfrac{1}{8}\hspace{0.5cm}[/latex] [latex]\dfrac{7}{8}\hspace{0.5cm}[/latex] [latex]\dfrac{3}{8}\hspace{0.5cm}[/latex]A number line from 0 to 1, split into one-eighth increments. The fractions one over eight, two over eight, three over eight, four over eight, five over eight, six over eight, and seven over eight are written under the corresponding place on the number line.
  3. [latex]\hspace{3.5cm}\dfrac{2}{3}[/latex] [latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex]
    A number line from 0 to 2, split into one-fifth increments. The fractions one over five, two over five, three over five, and four over five are written under the corresponding place on the number line.
  4. Complete the rule for comparing fractions. Circle the correct word.As the numerator gets bigger / smaller and the denominator stays the same, the fraction gets bigger / smaller / stays the same.

Check your answers for Exercise 10 with your instructor.

Exercise 11

Write the fractions on the number lines in order.

  1. [latex]\dfrac{1}{2}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{3}{4}[/latex]
    A number line from 0 to 1, split into four equal segments.
  2. [latex]\dfrac{2}{3}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex]
    A number line from 0 to 1, split into three equal segments.
  3. [latex]\dfrac{3}{10}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{7}{10}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{5}{10}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{8}{10}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{1}{10}[/latex]A number line from 0 to 1, split into ten equal segments.
  4. [latex]\dfrac{5}{6}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{2}{6}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{3}{6}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{1}{6}[/latex]
    A number line from 0 to 1, split into six equal segments.
  5. [latex]\dfrac{7}{12}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{5}{12}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{3}{12}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{10}{12}[/latex][latex]\hspace{0.5cm}\dfrac{1}{12}[/latex]A number line from 0 to 1, split into twelve equal segments.

Answers to Exercise 11

  1. [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{2}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{3}{4}[/latex]
  2. [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{2}{3}[/latex]
  3. [latex]\dfrac{1}{10}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{3}{10}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{5}{10}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{7}{10}, \dfrac{8}{10}[/latex]
  4. [latex]\dfrac{1}{6}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{2}{6}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{3}{6}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{5}{6}[/latex]
  5. [latex]\dfrac{1}{12}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{3}{12}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{5}{12}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{7}{12}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{10}{12}[/latex]

Comparing Fractions With Different Denominators

You now know how to compare fractions with the same denominator, but how do you do it when the denominators of two fractions are different?

Example I

Let’s look at some circles:

Three circles side-by-side. The first is split into two equal segments. One is blank, the other is shaded blue. The second is split into four equal segments. Three are blank, and the other is shaded blue. The third is split into eight equal segments. Seven are blank, and the other is shaded blue.

  1. Write a fraction for each circle above: [latex]\dfrac{1}{2}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{8}[/latex]
  2. Which is the largest of the three fractions: [latex]\dfrac{1}{2}[/latex]

Look at the following rectangles:

Four rectangles. The first is split into two equal segments. One is blank, the other is shaded pink. The second is split into three equal segments. Two are blank, and the other is shaded blue. The third is split into four equal segments. Three are blank, and the other is shaded pink. The fourth is split into five equal segments. Four are blank, and the other is shaded blue.

  1. Write in the fraction for each shaded part: [latex]\dfrac{1}{2}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{5}[/latex]
  2. Write the fractions in order from the largest to the smallest: [latex]\dfrac{1}{5}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex], [latex]\dfrac{1}{2}[/latex]

Exercise 12

Look back on the last three fraction drawing sets and compare the following fractions with < or >.

  1. [latex]\dfrac{1}{2}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{1}{8}[/latex]
  2. [latex]\dfrac{1}{6}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{1}{2}[/latex]
  3. [latex]\dfrac{1}{4}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex]
  4. [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{1}{8}[/latex]

Answers to Exercise 12

  1. >
  2. <
  3. <
  4. >

Topic A: Self-Test

Mark       /16                  Aim        13/16

  1. Write a common fraction to describe:
    1. the shaded part of each whole thing.
    2. the unshaded part of each whole thing.

    (6 marks)

    1. A square split into eight equal segments. Three segments are blank, the other five are shaded grey.
      1. Shaded:
      2. Unshaded:

       

    2. A circle split into three equal segments. One segment is blank, the other two are shaded grey.
      1. Shaded:
      2. Unshaded:

       

    3. A rectangle split into nine equal segments. Two segments are blank, the other seven are shaded grey.
      1. Shaded:
      2. Unshaded:
  2. Draw the following fractions (2 marks).
    1. [latex]\dfrac{3}{4}[/latex]
    2. [latex]\dfrac{1}{5}[/latex]
  3. Write the word name for the following fractions (3 marks).
    1. [latex]\dfrac{3}{4}[/latex]
    2. [latex]\dfrac{1}{5}[/latex]
    3. [latex]\dfrac{3}{7}[/latex]
  4. Answer the question using a common fraction (2 marks).
    1. The government has ordered the closing of 24 beds at the local hospital. The townspeople are angry because the hospital only has 100 beds in all. What fraction of the hospital beds are being closed?
    2. The young man ordered six roses for his girlfriend. He asked for five red ones and a special yellow rose. What fraction of the roses are red?
  5. Compare the following fractions, use < or > (3 marks).
    1. [latex]\dfrac{4}{5}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{3}{5}[/latex]
    2. [latex]\dfrac{12}{23}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{20}{23}[/latex]
    3. [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex]                     [latex]\dfrac{2}{3}[/latex]

Answers to Topic A Self-Test

  1. Write a common fraction based on the picture.
    1. Square
      1. [latex]\dfrac{5}{8}[/latex]
      2. [latex]\dfrac{3}{8}[/latex]
    2. Circle
      1. [latex]\dfrac{2}{3}[/latex]
      2. [latex]\dfrac{1}{3}[/latex]
    3. Rectangle
      1. [latex]\dfrac{7}{9}[/latex]
      2. [latex]\dfrac{2}{9}[/latex]
  2. Draw the following fractions.
    1. A rectangle divided into four parts. 3 parts are shaded.
    2. A rectangle divided into 5 parts. One part is shaded.
  3. Write the word name for the following fractions.
    1. Three quarters or Three fourths
    2. One fifth
    3. Three sevenths
  4. Answer the question using a common fraction.
    1. [latex]\dfrac{24}{100}[/latex]
    2. [latex]\dfrac{5}{6}[/latex]
  5. Compare the following fractions, use < or >.
    1. >
    2. <
    3. <
definition

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Adult Literacy Fundamental Mathematics: Book 5 - 2nd Edition Copyright © 2023 by Liz Girard; Wendy Tagami; and Leanne Caillier-Smith is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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