Fractions: The Building Blocks of Mathematics

Fractions are an essential part of mathematics. They are used to represent parts of a whole, ratios, and proportions. Without fractions, it would be difficult to solve many everyday problems.

In this article, we will explore the concept of fractions in detail. We will learn about different types of fractions, how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions, and how to use fractions to solve real-world problems.

A fraction is a number that represents a part of a whole. It is written as two numbers separated by a line, with the top number called the numerator and the bottom number called the denominator.

Fractions (Building Blocks of Mathematics)

by Ariel Landy

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	12151 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	34 pages

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For example, the fraction 1/2 represents one-half of a whole. The numerator, 1, tells us that we are taking one part of the whole, and the denominator, 2, tells us that the whole is divided into two equal parts.

There are many different types of fractions, but the most common are proper fractions, improper fractions, and mixed numbers.

• Proper fractions are fractions where the numerator is less than the denominator. For example, 1/2, 3/4, and 5/6 are all proper fractions.
• Improper fractions are fractions where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator. For example, 3/2, 4/4, and 5/3 are all improper fractions.
• Mixed numbers are a combination of a whole number and a proper fraction. For example, 1 1/2, 2 3/4, and 3 5/6 are all mixed numbers.

To add or subtract fractions, you need to make sure that the denominators are the same. If they are not, you can use the least common multiple (LCM) to find a common denominator.

Once you have a common denominator, you can add or subtract the numerators and keep the denominator the same.

For example, to add the fractions 1/2 and 1/4, we first need to find a common denominator. The LCM of 2 and 4 is 4, so we can rewrite the fractions as 2/4 and 1/4.

Now we can add the numerators to get 3/4.

2/4 + 1/4 = 3/4

To subtract fractions, we follow the same procedure. We first need to find a common denominator, and then we can subtract the numerators.

For example, to subtract the fraction 1/2 from the fraction 3/4, we first need to find a common denominator. The LCM of 2 and 4 is 4, so we can rewrite the fractions as 2/4 and 3/4.

Now we can subtract the numerators to get 1/4.

3/4 - 1/2 = 1/4

To multiply fractions, we simply multiply the numerators and the denominators.

For example, to multiply the fractions 1/2 and 1/4, we simply multiply the numerators to get 1 and the denominators to get 2.

1/2 * 1/4 = 1/8

To divide fractions, we simply flip the second fraction and multiply.

For example, to divide the fraction 1/2 by the fraction 1/4, we simply flip the second fraction to get 4/1 and multiply.

1/2 ÷ 1/4 = 1/2 * 4/1 = 2/1 = 2

Fractions are used to solve many everyday problems. For example, they can be used to:

• Find the area of a rectangle
• Find the volume of a cube
• Calculate the speed of a car
• Convert between different units of measurement

Fractions are an essential part of mathematics, and they are used in many different applications. By understanding the concept of fractions, you will be able to solve a wide variety of problems.

Fractions are an important part of mathematics. They are used to represent parts of a whole, ratios, and proportions. Without fractions, it would be difficult to solve many everyday problems.

In this article, we have explored the concept of fractions in detail. We have learned about different types of fractions, how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions, and how to use fractions to solve real-world problems.

By understanding the concept of fractions, you will be able to solve a wide variety of problems and become more proficient in mathematics.

Fractions (Building Blocks of Mathematics)

by Ariel Landy

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	12151 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	34 pages

FREE