Fractions

Objectives:
At the end of the module, the pre-service teachers will be able to:

1. Define important terminologies in fractions.

2. Identify the different types of fractions.

3. Explain the order of fractions.

4. Solve problems on the operation on fractions.

Introduction

What is Fraction?

Fractions represent equal parts of a whole or a collection.

Fraction of a whole: When we divide a whole into equal parts, each part is a
fraction of the whole.
For example,

Fraction of a collection: Fractions also represent parts of a set or collection.

For example,
There are total of 5 children.
3 out of 5 are girls. So, the fraction of girls is three-fifths ( 3⁄5 ).

2 out of 5 are boys. So, the fraction of boys is two-fifths ( 2⁄5 ).

Fraction notation
A fraction has two parts. The number on the top of the line is called the numerator.
It tells how many equal parts of the whole or collection are taken. The number
below the line is called the denominator. It shows the total divisible number of
equal parts the whole into or the total number of equal parts which are there in a
collection.
Fractions on a number line: Fractions can be represented on a number line, as
shown below.

For examples,
Real life examples
The most common examples of fractions from real life are equal slices of pizza,
fruit, cake, a bar of chocolate, etc.

Non-examples
When the parts of the whole are unevenly divided, they don’t form fractions.

Types of fractions
Proper fractions
Unit fractions Fractions in which the numerator is
Fractions with numerator 1 are called unit less than the denominator are called
fractions. proper fractions.
 Mixed fractions
Improper fractions Mixed fractions consist of a whole
Fractions in which the numerator is more number along with a proper fraction.
than or equal to the denominator are
called improper fractions.

Fun Facts

• The word ‘fraction’ has been derived from the Latin ‘fractus’ which means
“broken”.
• Fraction has been into existence from the Egyptian era which is known to be one
of the oldest civilizations in the world. However, fractions were not regarded as
numbers, in fact, they were used to compare the whole numbers with one
another.

Equivalent Fractions

Some fractions may look different, but are really the same, for example:

4/8 = 2/4 = 1/2

(Four-Eighths) (Two-Quarters) (One-Half)

 = =

It is usually best to show an answer using the simplest fraction (1/2 in this case). That
is called Simplifying, or Reducing the Fraction

Equivalent Fractions have the same value, even though they may look different.

These fractions are really the same:

1/2 = 2/4 = 4/8

Why are they the same? Because when you multiply or divide both the top and
bottom by the same number, the fraction keeps it's value.

The rule to remember is:

"Change the bottom using multiply or divide,

And the same to the top must be applied"

Here is why those fractions are really the same:

×2 ×2

= =

×2 ×2
And visually it looks like this:

1/2 2/4 4/8

 = =

Operations on Fractions:

Addition and Subtraction of Similar Fractions

In addition and subtraction of fractions, you must remember the rule that you can
only add or subtract fractions if they are similar fractions. When fractions are
expressed in mixed numbers, add the similar fractions then the whole numbers.

Addition and Subtraction of Dissimilar Fractions

Dissimilar fractions are fractions with different denominators such as 1/3, 1/5,
and 2/7. To add or subtract dissimilar fractions, change the dissimilar fractions to its
equivalent similar fractions. If you find it convenient to change the mixed numbers in
an improper fraction, you can also do it. Reduce the answer to lowest term, if
necessary.

Examples:
Another solution: (Consider the fractions by taking its Least Common Denominator…)

but since the numerator is b igger

than the denominator, then becomes

Multiplication and Division of Fractions

In multiplying fractions, simply multiply the numerator by the numerator and

the denominator by the denominator then reduce the fraction to lowest term.

In dividing fractions, get the reciprocal of the divisor then proceed to the rule
of multiplication. Reduce the fraction to lowest term, if necessary.

We can also apply the cancellation law in multiplying fractions. To be able to

apply this, one number in a factor must be in the numerator and the other number of
the factor is in the denominator.

Guide Questions:

1. What is a Least Common Denominator (LCD)?

2. How do you find the LCD of fractions?

3. How do we reduce fractions to lowest term?

Answer to Guide Questions:

 1. The least common denominator, also known as lowest common denominator
or smallest common denominator of a set of fractions with denominators (a,
b, c...) is the smallest positive integer that is divisible by each denominator in
the set.

2. LCD can be found by two methods. In the first method, LCD of two or more
fractions is found as the smallest of all the possible common denominators.
In second method, we find the prime factors of the denominators. Then we
look for the most occurrence of each of those prime factors and then take
their product. This gives the LCD of the fractions.

3. To reduce a fraction to lowest terms (also called its simplest form), just divide
both the numerator and denominator by the Greatest Common Factor (GCF
or GCD). For example, 2/3 is in lowest form, but 4/6 is not in lowest form (the
GCD of 4 and 6 is 2) and 4/6 can be expressed as 2/3.

Learning Activities:

A. Perform the following operations:

Key Points / Summary:

1. You can add or subtract fractions when they are similar fractions.
 2. When fractions do not have a similar denominator, find the LCD first before
proceeding to the operation of addition and subtraction.

3. Cancellation law can only be applied when the operation involve is

multiplication.

4. In division of fraction, take the reciprocal of the divisor then proceed to

multiplication.

5. In multiplication and division, perform first the operation according to its

occurrence (say, if multiplication comes first, perform multiplication before
division but if division comes first, perform division before multiplication).

Assessment:
Analyze the given problems then solve each problem carefully.

1. Gang Tae has 157 liters of gasoline. He poured it into 2 containers. One
contained 32 2/7 liters while the other contained 55 3/5 liters. How many
liters of gasoline were left?

2. An orange tree grows 3/7 times as much as a rose plant. If the rose plant
grows 2/5 cm. in a month, what is the total length of the orange tree and the
rose plant in 2 months?

3. A Belgian sausage is 8 inches long. How many pieces of sausage can be cut
from the 8-inch sausage if each piece is to be 2/3 of an inch?

4. Ko Mun-yeong cooks a carrot cake to sell for an additional income. She has
15 1/2 kg. of the ingredients of the cake. She bought 20 1/4 kg. more of the
ingredients.
If she uses 1 3/5 kg. for a container of the carrot cake, how many containers
of carrot cake can she make?
References:

https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/fractions/fraction

https://www.mathsisfun.com/fractions_addition.html