Fractions – Help With Fractions and Mixed Numbers

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     Some fractions are shown as mixed numbers.  A mixed number is a number that contains both and integer and a fraction (e.g. 3¾). 

     You can visualize 3¾ by picturing 3 pizzas and ¾ of a pizza.

     You can change the mixed number into a regular fraction in two ways.

First way:

     Take the mixed number 3¾ and treat it like a fraction addition problem.  Turn the integer, 3, into a fraction, 3/1.  Then, 3¾ becomes 3/1 + 3/4.

     Now we have to find a common denominator.  The lowest common denominator of 4 and 1 is 4.  First we have to change the denominators to 4.  So we multiply the denominator of the first fraction 3/1 by multiplying 1 x 4 = 4.  Since we multiplied 1 by 4, we must do the same to the numerator (3), so 3 x 4 = 12.  Now we have the fraction 12/4.

       We will do the same to the other fraction of 3/4.  We multiplied the 4 x 1 to get 4 so we multiply the numerator by 1 as well and we are left with 3/4.

    Next we add 12/4 + 3/4 and we get 15/4 as our answer.

Second way:

     We can take the mixed number 3¾ and do some simple math to get the answer of 15/4.

    First, we start with the denominator, 4.  We multiply the denominator, 4, by the integer (the large 3) to get 12.  Then we add the numerator (small 3) to get 15.  The denominator remains the same and our answer is 15/4.

   Let’s try changing this mixed number into a regular fraction.  We will take the mixed number 2⅝.  First, we start with the denominator 8 and multiply it by the integer 2 to get 16.  Then we add the numerator 5 to get 21.  Our answer is 21/8.

     Now you have a better idea how to convert mixed numbers in to fractions.

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