Fractions

By Muralee.V.

Reading and representing fractions

1. A fraction has numerator and denominator.
Example
3 Numerator
7
2. The fractionDenominator
above read as three-sevenths.
3. A fraction represents a part or parts of a whole.

3
3 out of 8 parts are written as
10
4. The number 1 = all parts of a whole.
Example
3 8 35 88
1= = = = =…
3 8 35 88

5. Fractions also can be represented by using a shaded diagram.

Example 1
Shade the parts that represent
1
a)
3
3
b)
8

Solution
a)

b)

6. The shaded parts in a given diagram can be expressed as a fraction

Example 2
Express the shaded parts of each diagram as a fraction
a)
b)

Solution
4
a)
8
2
b)
6

Equivalent Fractions
1. Fractions with equal values called as equivalent fractions.
Example
1 2 3 4
= = = =…
3 6 9 12
2. By multiplying or dividing both the numerator and denominator of a given fraction by
the same number an equivalent fraction of the given fraction can be obtained.
Example
2 3
1 2 1 3
= =
3 6 3 9

 2 3
2 3
2 1 3 1
= =
6 3 9 3

 2 3
2 3 1
Therefore, and are equivalent fractions of
6 9 3
3. In order to determine whether two given fractions are equivalent or not, change both
fractions into fractions with a common denominator.
Example 3
Determine whether each of the following pairs of fractions is equivalent or not.
 10 14
a) and
25 35
14 15
b) and
24 30

Solution
10 10  5
a) = 25  5
25
2
=
5

14 14  7
= 35  7
35
2
=
5
10 14
Therefore, and are equivalent fractions.
25 35

14 14  2
b) = 24  2
24
7
=
12

15 15  15
= 30  15
30
1
=
2
10 14
Therefore, and are not equivalent fractions.
25 35
4. The values of fractions can be compared in three ways:
a. For fractions with a common denominator, a fraction with the largest numerator
has the largest value.
Example 4
5 4
Compare and
7 7

Solution
The denominator for both the fractions are same, 7. So, now compare 5 and 4.
5>4
5 4
Therefore, >
7 7
b. For fractions with a common numerator, a fraction with the smallest denominator
has the largest value.
Example 5
4 4
Compare and
9 5
 Solution
The0 nominators for both the fractions are same, 4. So, now compare 9 and 5.
9>5
4 4
Therefore, <
9 5
c. For fractions with different numerators and denominators, change each fraction
into its equivalent with a common denominator. Then, compare the numerators of
the fractions. (Common denominator = LCM of all the denominators)
Example 6
2 3
Compare and
3 4

Solution
The denominators for both the fractions are not same, 3 and 4. So, LCM for 3 and
4 is 12.
2 2 4
= 3 4
3
8
=
12
3 3 3
= 43
4
9
=
12
Now, the denominators of both the fractions are same, 12. So, now compare 8 and
9.
8<9
2 3
Therefore, <
3 4
5. When a list of fractions is given, the fractions can be arranged in order by:
a. Change each fraction into its equivalent with a common denominator, then
b. Compare the numerators of the fractions
Example 7
2 7 5
i) Arrange the fractions , and in ascending order.
3 9 18
3 20 15
ii) Arrange the fractions , and in descending order
14 28 35
Solution
i) LCM of 3, 9 and 18 is 18.
2 2 6
= 36
3
12
=
18
7 7 2
= 92
9
 14
=
18
5 2 7
So, < <
18 3 9
5 2 7
Therefore, in ascending order, < <
18 3 9

ii) HCF of 14, 28 and 35 is 7.

2 2  2
= 14  2
14
1
=
7
15 15  5
= 35  5
35
3
=
7
20 20  4
= 28  4
28
5
=
7

2 15 20
So, < <
14 35 28
2 15 20
Therefore, in ascending order, , and
14 35 28

6. The method of cancellation can be used to simplify a fraction into its lowest terms
7. Both the numerator and denominator are divided by their HCF.
Example 8
Express the following fractions into the lowest terms.
35
a)
63
64
b)
100

Solution
a) HCF for 42 and 63 is 7. So,
35 35 �7
=
63 63 �7
5
=
9
b) HCF for 64 and 100 is 4. So,
64 64 �4
=
100 100 �4
 16
=
25

Test yourself
1. Determine whether each of the following pairs of fractions are equivalent or not.
15 10
a) and
21 14
30 135
b) and
36 165
2. Express the following fractions in the lowest terms
27
a)
84
21
b)
49