Introduction to Fractions

𝑎 Where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are integers and 𝑏 ≠ 0. In a fraction, 𝑎 is

A fraction is written as
called the numerator and 𝑏 is called the denominator.
𝑏

A fraction is a way to represent parts of a whole. The denominator represents the number
of equal parts the whole has been divided into, and the numerator represents how many parts
are included. The denominator cannot equal zero because division by zero is undefined.

Suppose you want to share a pizza equally with three friends.

How much pizza do you each get?

There is one whole pizza, divided into four equal parts. Each person
1
gets one of the four equal parts, so you each get of the pizza.
4

What fraction does the shaded area of each shape represent?

The circle is divided into three equal parts, and two of them are shaded.
2
Therefore, the fraction of the circle that is shaded is .
3
This is called a proper fraction because the numerator is smaller than the
denominator.

The circle is divided into five equal parts, and all five of them are shaded.
Therefore, the whole circle is shaded, so the fraction of the circle that is
5
shaded is = 1.
5
Any fraction that has the same numerator and denominator is one because
any number, except zero, divided by itself is one.

The rectangle is divided into five equal parts, and zero parts are shaded.
0
Therefore, the fraction of the rectangle that is shaded is 5 = 0.
Any fraction that has a numerator of zero equals zero because zero divided
by any number, except zero, is zero.

Source: "Prealgebra" by Lynn Marecek & Mary Anne Anthony-Smith is licensed under CC BY 4.0 / A
derivative from the original work