FRACTIONS, PERCENTS AND DECIMALS
Numerator and Denominator
The top number of a fraction is called a numerator.
The bottom number of a fraction is called a denominator.
A fraction tells someone how many pieces of a whole you have.
1 slice out of 8 slices of pizza =
As a fraction: 1/8 of a pizza
As a decimal: 1 ÷ 8 = 0.125, numerator over denominator
As a percent: 1 ÷ 8 x 100 = 12.5% of the pizza
2 slices out of 8 slices of pizza =
As a fraction: 2/8 of the pizza, you can simplify to 1/4 of the pizza
As a decimal: 2 ÷ 8 = 0.25, numerator divided by the denominator
As a percent: 2 ÷ 8 x 100 = 25% of the pizza.
How to simplify a Fraction
Example:
Your Fraction is 6/24 .
There are several ways to simplify a fraction. Below are two methods.
METHOD 1: Divide the numerator and denominator by the same whole number until you can’t divide anymore. Remember whatever you do to the numerator you have to do to the denominator.
Dividing by 2’s or 3’s until you can’t any more:
6/24 = 3/12 = 1/4
6/24 = 3/12 (6 ÷ 2 = 3 and 24 ÷ 2 = 12) = 1/4 (3 ÷ 3 = 1 and 12 ÷ 3 = 4)
METHOD 2: Find the Greatest Common Factor. This means find the biggest number both the numerator and denominator can divide by. The biggest divisible number in this case is 6. Divide 6 and 24 by 6 and you get 1/4.
6/24
Factors of 6
= 1 x 6
= 2 x 3
= 3 x 2
= 6 x 1
Factors of 24
= 1 x 24
= 2 x 12
= 3 x 8
= 4 x 6
= 6 x 4
= 8 x 3
= 12 x 2
= 24 x 1
