Classifying Fractions

Look at each fraction below. How are these fractions similar? How are they different?

The fractions above are similar since each one has a denominator of 4. Look at the circles below to see how these fractions are different.

   1/4 (One-fourth)      4/4 (Four-fourths)

                 7/4 (Seven-fourths)

The fraction  is called a proper fraction. The fractions  and  are improper fractions.

Definition: A proper fraction is a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator.

Definition: An improper fraction is a fraction in which the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator.

In example 1, we will identify each fraction as proper or improper. We will also write each fraction using words. Example 1 Fraction Type Words improper three-halves proper two-fifths improper three-thirds proper five-sixths improper eleven-eighths improper eight-eighths

What do the fractions in example 2 have in common?

Example 2

  2/2 (Two-halves)

 3/3 (Three-thirds)

 4/4 (Four-fourths)

   5/5 (Five-fifths)

   6/6 (Six-sixths)

In example 2, each fraction has a numerator that is equal to its denominator. Each of these fractions is an improper fraction, equal to one whole (1). An improper fraction can also be greater than one whole, as shown in example 3.

Example 3

                7/4 (Seven Fourths)

In the improper fraction seven-fourths, the numerator (7) is greater than the denominator (4). We can write this improper fraction as a mixed number.

Definition: A mixed number consists of a whole-number part and a fractional part.

In examples 4 through 6, we will write each improper fraction as a mixed number.

Example 4

In example 4, seven-fourths is an improper fraction. It is really the sum of four-fourths and three-fourths. Seven-fourths is written as the mixed number one and three-fourths, where one is the whole-number part, and three-fourths is the fractional part.

Example 5

In example 5, the improper fraction seven-thirds is written as the mixed number two and one-third, where two is the whole-number part, and one-third is the fractional part.

Example 6

In example 6, the improper fraction seventeen-fifths is written as the mixed number three and two-fifths, where three is the whole-number part, and two-fifths is the fractional part.

In example 7, we will write each number using words. We will then classify each number as a proper fraction, an improper fraction, or a mixed number. Place your mouse over the answer text see if you got it right.

Example 7
Number	Words	Type of Fraction
	three-eighths	answer 1
	one and three-sevenths	answer 2
	five-fifths	answer 3
	eleven-fourths	answer 4
	three and five-sixths	answer 5
	eight-thirds	answer 6
	fourteen-sevenths	answer 7

The last number in example 7 can be written as a whole number: fourteen-sevenths is equal to two wholes (2).

How can you tell if a fraction is less than 1, equal to 1, or greater than 1?

Compare the numerator and denominator	Example	Type of Fraction	Write As
If the numerator <  denominator, then the fraction < 1.		proper fraction	proper fraction
If the numerator = denominator, then the fraction = 1.		improper fraction	whole number
If the numerator > denominator, then the fraction > 1.		improper fraction	mixed number

Summary: A number can be classified as a proper fraction, an improper fraction, or as a mixed number. Any number divided by itself is equal to one. A mixed number consists of a whole-number part and a fractional part.

Exercises

In Exercises 1 through 5, click once in an ANSWER BOX and type in your answer; then click ENTER. After you click ENTER, a message will appear in the RESULTS BOX to indicate whether your answer is correct or incorrect. To start over, click CLEAR. Note: To write the fraction two-thirds, enter 2/3 into the form.