LESSON 1: FRACTIONS

To be successful to learn in business mathematics, it is very important to have a

good background in basic mathematics. Each new topic in mathematics builds upon skills
you have previously learned. Fractions are often an obstacle to many students. For that
reason, we begin this course with a review of basic operations with fractions. This module
consists of a quick overview of the operations with fractions. At the end of this module, you
will learn how to identify different kinds of fractions, convert into the lowest term and how
to solve involving fractions.

Fraction- represent equal parts of a whole or a collection. 

Numerator- the number above the line in a common fraction showing how many
of the parts indicated by the denominator are taken, for example, 2 in 2/3.
Denominator- the number below the line in a common fraction; a divisor.

INSTRUCTIONS: Complete the parts of fractions. Write your correct answer inside the
box.

INTRODUCTION
A fraction is a part of a piece broken off or a fragment of a whole
thing or object, which is less than one.
A fraction is a number, which indicates that another is dividing one
number.
Example

KINDS OF FRACTIONS

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There are three kinds of fractions:
1. Proper fractions- whose numerators (upper portion) are lesser than denominators (lower
portion).
1 2 15 235 1,000
Example: , , , ,
2 4 20 500 10,000
2. Improper fractions- fractions whose numerators are greater than the denominators.
2 4 10 100
Example: , , ,
1 2 5 2
3. Mixed Fractions- combination of a whole number and a proper fraction.
1 3 11
Example: 1 ,6 ,10
2 5 12

CONVERSION OF FRACTIONS
A. Changing improper fractions to mixed fractions:
To convert an improper fraction to a mixed fraction, follow these steps:
 Divide the numerator by the denominator.
 Write down the whole number answer
 Then write down any remainder above the denominator.
Example: Convert 36/5 to a mixed fraction.
Divide:
36÷5=7 with a remainder of 1
Write down the 7 and then write down the remainder (1) above the denominator (5), like this:
1
7
5
B. Converting Mixed Fractions to Improper Fractions
To convert a mixed fraction to an improper fraction, follow these steps:

 Multiply the whole number part by the fraction's denominator.

 Add that to the numerator
 Then write the result on top of the denominator.
Example:
1
Write the mixed number 7 as an impropert fraction.
5
1 36
Solution: 7 → 5 x 7 =35 +1 =
5 5
C. Reducing fractions to lowest term.

To reduce a fraction to lowest term, find the largest number or the greatest common
factor (GCF) that can be divided evenly by both the numerator and the denominator. (Reducing
the fraction will not change its value; the reduced fraction will be an equivalent).
Example:

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Reduce 6/18 to lowest terms. (6=3x2; 18=6x3)
The GCF that can divide both the numerator and the denominator is 6.
6 6 1
÷ =
18 6 3

Thus, the fraction 6/18 is the same as the fraction 1/3 when reduced to lowest terms.

CONVERSION OF FRACTIONS
1. Addition of proper fractions
Step 1: Add the numerator
Step 2: Copy the common denominator.
Step 3: Reduce If possible
1 2 1+2 3
+ =
4 4 4
=4

2. Addition of Improper fractions

Step 1: Add the numerator
Step 2: Copy the common denominator.
Step 3: Reduce to lowest term

4 3 4+ 3 7 1
+ =
2 2 2
= 2 =3 2
3. Addition of mixed fractions
Step 1: Convert them to improper fractions
Step 2: Then add them (using addition of fractions)
Step 3: Then convert back to mixed fractions

Convert to improper fraction:

3 11
2 =
4 4
1 7
3 =
2 2
Find the least common denominator (LCD):
11 11
=
4 4
7 14
2
= 4

Add:
11 14 25
+
4 4
= 4

Convert to mixed fraction:

25 1
= 6
4 4

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 1
Therefore, the answer is 6
4

SUBTRACTION OF FRACTIONS
A. Subtraction of fraction from a whole :
Step 1: Change the whole number into a fraction by using it number as numerator and
denominator, and consider it is a minuend.
Step 2: Subtract the fraction from the minuend and consider it as subtrahend
Step 3: Subtract the numerators and copy the common denominator in the result or
difference.
Example.
1
Subtract from 5.
5

5 1 4
- =
5 5 5
MULTIPLICATION OF FRACTIONS
A. Like fractions – multiply numerators and denominators.
Example:

1 1 1
x =
2 2 4
DIVISION OF FRACTIONS
Step 1: Identify the dividend and the divisor.
Step 2: Multiply the reciprocal of the divisor, and then proceed to multiplication.
Step 3: Reduce to lowest term.
3 4
Example: ÷ =?
5 7
3 4 3 7
÷ = x
5 7 5 4
21 1
= or 1
20 20
SIMPLIFYING COMPLEX FRACTIONS
Step 1: Create one single fraction in the numerator (if necessary)
Step 2: Create one single fraction in the denominator (if necessary)
Step 3: Remember the main fraction line means “divide”. Rewrite the fractions using
division symbol÷.
Step 4: Follow the normal rules for dividing fractions: Invert the second term (the
denominator of the complex fraction) and multiply (by the numerator of the
complex fraction).
Step 5. Simplify if needed
Example

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 1
4 1 3 1 8 2
1. = ÷ = × =
3 4 8 4 3 3
8

PROBLEM SOLVING
A. Solving problems can be easy if you understand very well the terms or expressions
used in any of the four operations in mathematics.
a. Expressions used in addition
1. Find the sum or total
2. Increase
3. ____and____
4. Greater than
5. Plus
6. How many
7. How much
8. More than
b. Expressions used in subtractions.
1. Find the difference
2. Taken from subtracted from
3. Minus/ decrease
4. Less than
5. Deducted from
c. Expressions used in multiplication
1. Find the product
2. Multiplied by, times
3. Twice the age, thrice, four times. Etc
4. ½ of n
d. Expressions used in division
1. Find the quotient
2. Divided by
3. A part of
B. Steps in solving problems
1. Write the given data
2. Identify the hidden problem/s
3. Understand the requirements or what is asked to solve the problem
4. Determine the operation/s to be used in solving the problem.
5. Follow the operation steps in writing the mathematical statement.
6. Check your answer.

Exercise 1. INSTRUCTIONS: Identify the kinds of fractions

(1 point each)

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 3 535
1. =¿ ____________ 11. =¿ ____________
4 1,535
25 900
2. =¿ ____________ 12. =¿ ____________
10 899
1 25
3. =¿ ____________ 13. =¿ ____________
2 360
1 23
4. 3 =¿ ____________ 14. 545 =¿ ____________
2 25
100 10
5. =¿ ____________ 15. =¿ ____________
50 20
1 13
6. 23 =¿ ____________ 16. =¿ ____________
8 7
1000 8
7. =¿ ____________ 17. =¿ ____________
500 10
4 398
8. =¿ ____________ 18. =¿ ____________
5 400
35 1213
9. =¿ ____________ 19. =¿ ____________
60 1312
9 900
10. =¿ ____________ 20. =¿ ____________
15 760
Exercise 2. Conversion of fractions. (1 point each)
A. Change improper fractions to mixed numbers.
25 3
1. =¿ ____________ 4. =¿ ____________
6 4
9 1200
2. =¿ ____________ 5. =¿ ____________
4 650
3
3. =¿ ____________
2
B. Change mixed numbers to improper fractions or whole number.
1 1
1. 5 = ____________ 5. 150 = ____________
4 3
1
2. 12 = ____________
2
25
3. = ____________
25
2
4. 35 = ____________
3
C. Reduce fractions to lowest terms or simplify;
6 300
1. = ____________ 5. = ____________
12 660
25
2. = ____________
50
25
3. = ____________
75
100
4. = ____________
1000
Exercise 3. Solve the Addition of fractions. Write your answer in the blanks. (1 point each)
A. Like fractions
2 5 8
1. + + = ___________
15 15 15

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 2 5 8
2. + + = ___________
20 20 20
2 15 18
3. + + = ___________
25 25 25
3 1 5 2
4. + + + = ___________
6 6 6 6
45 30 10
5. + + =___________
100 100 100
B. Unlike fractions
1 2 1
1. + + = ___________
3 4 2
2 8 6
2. + + = ___________
3 10 12
20 15 10
3. + + = ___________
25 50 75
4 3 1 2
4. + + + = ___________
5 4 2 3
13 9 10 1
5. + + + =___________
5 5 15 5
C. Mixed fractions
1 2 3
1. +5 +10 = ___________
2 3 6
2 1 3
2.8 +10 +16 = ___________
5 2 4
4 2 10
3.9 +3 +13 = ___________
5 3 15
1 1 3
4. 20 +30 + 15 = ___________
4 6 4
1 2 1
5. 100 +90 + 120 = ___________
2 3 4

Exercise 4. Solve the Subtraction of fractions. Write your answer in

the blanks. (1 point each)
A. Subtraction of fractions from whole numbers.
1
1. 3- =¿ ¿
2
25
2. 100- =¿ ¿
50
13
3. 75- =¿
45 ¿
1
4. 10- 9 =¿ ¿
2
350
5. 1000- =¿
550 ¿
B. Subtraction of fractions from fractions
24 20
1. − =¿___________
48 30

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 8 1
2. − =¿___________
10 5
315 215
3. − =¿___________
500 500
65 35
4. − =¿___________
120 60
95 35
5. − =¿___________
120 160
C. Subtraction of mixed numbers.
1 3
1. 45 −3 =¿ ¿
2 4
2 3
2. 10 −8 =¿ ¿
5 5
1 1
3. 55 −35 =¿ ¿
8 2
10 2
4. 17 −13 =¿ ¿
12 12
1 3
5. 85 −78 =¿ ¿
2 4
Exercise 5. Solve the Multiplication of fractions. Write your answer in the blanks. (1 point
each)
A. Like fractions
2 3
1. × =¿
5 5
10 7
2. × =¿
15 15
8 4
3. × =¿
64 64
50 25
4. × =¿
100 100
9 3
5. × =¿
81 81
12 6
6. × =¿
24 28
8 12
7. × =¿
12 20
21 7
8. × =¿
25 15
9 5
9. × =¿
45 90
500 10
10. × =¿
100 50
4 3
11. 3 ×1 =¿
5 5
2 1
12. 10 ×20 =¿
5 4
1 10
13. 5 ×3 =¿
5 15
2 1
14. 8 ×16 =¿
4 2
30 15
15. × =¿
60 30

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Exercise 6. Solve the Division of fractions. Write your answer in the blanks.
(1 point each)
4 2
1. ÷ =¿
10 10
3 5
2. ÷ =¿
15 15
20 5
3. ÷ =¿
25 25
16 12
4. ÷ =¿
32 32
50 25
5. ÷ =¿
100 100
2 5
6. ÷ =¿
10 20
5 5
7. ÷ =¿
15 30
5 50
8. ÷ =¿
25 100
12 16
9. ÷ =¿
32 42
25 75
10. ÷ =¿
100 115
3 1
11. 3 ÷ 6 =¿
5 2
1 2
12. 10 ÷17 =¿
4 5
1 1
13. 9 ÷ 18 =¿
3 2
1 1
14. 16 ÷32 =¿
2 8
28 7
15. ÷ =¿
32 16
Exercise 7. Solve the Complex fractions. Write your answer in the blanks. (1 point each)

1.( 18 + 24 )× ( 15 + 153 )=¿_______________

2 1 1 3
2. ( − ) ÷ ( + )=¿ _______________
5 3 2 4

2 1 1
3. 8 ÷ 9 ( + )=¿_______________
5 2 3
2 1
+
4 8
4. =¿ _______________
6 2
+
12 6
1
5 ×10
5 1
5. 1 1
+ 7 =_______________
2
3 ×6
2 3

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Exercise 8. INSTRUCTION: Answer the following problems. (NOTE: Be careful with
RUBRIC presented)
1. A foot bookshelf contains 6 books. The measurement of the thickness of each book in
3 1 1 1 3
inches are 1 ,2 , 1 , 3 ∧2 . How thick is the sixth book?
4 2 3 8 4

1 3
2. A rope roll contains 100 meters. How many pieces of rope of 2
2 4
meters long each can be cut from the rope roll?

3. There are 550 students that a dressmaker will cater for their school uniform. Each student
3
needs 3 meters long. How many meters of cloth will the dressmaker purchase
4

Directions: Answer the following questions.

1. What is Decimals?
________________________________________
2. Give atleast 5 examples of decimals. Write your answer inside the box.

BUSINESS MATHEMATICS 11 10
 RUBRIC FOR THE PROBLEM SOLVING
5 4 3 2 Scor
e
Understandin Complete Misinterprets Misinterprets Completely
g the Problem understanding minor part of major part of misinterprets
of the the problem the problem the problem
problem
Solving the A plan that Substantially Partially Totally
Problem could lead to correct correct inappropriate
a correct procedure procedure plan
solution with with minor but with
no arithmetic omission or major fault
errors procedural
error
Answering the Correct Copying Partially No answer
Problem solution error; Wrong or wrong
computationa answer but answer
l error, partial have based upon
answer for solutions an
problem with inappropriate
multiple plan
answers; no
answer
statement;
answer
labeled
incorrectly
TOTAL

REFERENCE:
Agcaoli, Zenaida A., et Al. Business Operations: Mathematics of investments.
Philippines: Mutya Publishing House, 2001
Picar, J . Worktext in General Mathematics for Grade 11: A Comprehensive Approach:
Dioscesan Printing Press and Publishing Inc.

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