Fractons is one of the fundamental concepts of mathematics. Fractions not only are used in Mathematics, but it has a lot of real-life applications. We perform various operations on fractions. Some of the basic operations include addition and subtraction of fractions. Once you understand the fundamentals of fractions multiplying and dividing fractions becomes easy. In order to get an in-depth understanding of the topic, students should be engaged using visual tools and real-life examples. In our daily lives, we use fractions to perform various tasks, from cooking to distributing pizza slices and many more.

The concept of fractions was discovered by the Egyptians, and the word fraction comes from the Latin word ‘fractio.’ Although fractions do not have a long list of rules and techniques, however, you need to be familiar with the fundamental concepts and terms such as like fractions, unlike fractions, numerator, denominator, partial fractions, etc.

In this blog, we are going to understand fractions and their types in detail. We will also explore some of the essential terms related to fractions. Let’s get started with the topic.

What is a Fraction?

A fraction can be defined as a part or portion of a whole unit. With the help of the concept of fraction, we define a particular piece. For example, when we order a pizza that has eight slices, one slice of that pizza can be referred to as one-eighth of the pizza, which can be represented as 1/8th. Now let us go through some of the important terms related to fractions one by one :

Important Terms

Numerator: Fractions are separated by a slash sign. The number which is placed above that slash sign is known as the numerator. For eg, in the fraction ⅖, 2 is the numerator.

Denominator: The numbers which are placed below the slash sign is known as denominator. For example, in the fraction 8/12, 12 is known as the denominator.
Vinculum: Vinculum (_) or solidus (/) is the separating line which we use in a fraction to separate the numerator and denominator.

Pronunciation of a fraction: We use cardinal and ordinal numbers to pronounce fractions. For example, when we say 2/3rd, we use the cardinal number to pronounce the numerator and the ordinal number to pronounce the denominator.

Types of Fractions

Let us now go through the various types of fractions:

● Proper fractions: When the numerator is less than the denominator, and both numerator and denominator are positive, it is a proper fraction. The absolute value of a proper fraction is always less than 1. For example, 1/4, 1/9, and 6/9 are all proper fractions.

● Improper fractions: When the numerator is greater than the denominator, and both numerator and denominator are positive, it is an improper fraction. The absolute value of an improper fraction is always equal to or more than 1. For example, 9/4, 8/2, and 113/2 are all improper fractions.

● Mixed fractions: Mixed fractions are compound fractions that have a non-zero integer and a proper fraction. A mixed fraction is a way to represent the improper fraction. Some of the examples of mixed fractions are 12(2/5), 5( 5/4), etc.

● Equivalent fractions: When two different fraction sets give the same result, after simplification, it is an equivalent fraction. For example, 4/8, 3/6, and 20/40 are equivalent fractions. On simplification of these fractions, we get the fractional value as 1/2.

● Like and unlike fractions: The fractions with the same denominators are like fractions. For example, 7/3, 8/3, and 1/3 are all like fractions. Similarly, fractions with different denominators are unlike fractions like 5/2, 6/4, etc.

I hope this blog helped you understand fractions better. Cuemath is an online learning platform that can help you get an in-depth understanding of fractions with interactive worksheets, visual simulations, etc. The modern teaching techniques help you understand the why behind the what and boost a student’s logical and reasoning skills!