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What is a fraction• Fractions are used to represent parts

of whole numbers • Fractions always have a top and a

bottom number

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• The number at the bottom (denominator) tells you the size of the parts that make the whole, e.g. the whole pizza has four quarters

What does the bottom number of a fraction tell you?

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• The number on the top (numerator) tells you how many parts you have of the whole, e.g. three quarters of the pizza is left as one quarter has been eaten!

What does the top number of a fraction tell you?

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Examples• How many ways can you draw three

quarters?

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• The bigger the denominator, the smaller the fraction (or portion size)

The pieces of pizza are smaller when you cut them into, eighths (8 pieces) than if you cut them into halves (2 pieces). This means that "1/8" is smaller than "1/2".

Which is the bigger part of the whole?

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Simplifying fractions• Some fractions can and should be

reduced to simpler fractions If a fraction can be reduced there must be a number

(other than 1) that can be divided into both the numerator and the denominator.

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Simplifying factions• This chart shows how fractions

highlighted in the same colour can be reduced.

Source: Google.co.nz

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Why understanding fractions is useful

You can:• reduce/increase the amount of each

ingredient in a recipe by the correct amount so it will still work.

• understand how much you will save with a shopping special, e.g. “pay one third of the price, buy one – get the second item at half price ”

• share something out in equal parts

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Learning GoalsTo help the RSE worker(s) to:• Understand basic fractions• Reduce basic fractions to simpler

fractionsActivities• Test your knowledge of fractions.

Click on the tick button below to try the fractions quiz.