IWCF UK Branch Distance Learning Programme DRILLING CALCULATIONS

4.1 Fractions
Fractions are a way of expressing a part of a whole or in other words, fractions are parts of
something.

Meaning of a fraction
Example
1.

Shown are a group of shapes

What fraction are triangles?
What fraction are circles?
What fraction are squares?

First of all, count the total number of shapes;

Total number =
6
Then count the number of each shape;
Triangles = 1
So there is one triangle out of six shapes or the fraction is 1 out of 6.
1
As a fraction this is written as
6
Circles = 2
So the fraction of the shapes which are circles is

2
6

Squares = 3
So the fraction of the shapes which are squares is

Part 1 Section 4

3
6

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IWCF UK Branch Distance Learning Programme DRILLING CALCULATIONS

Example 2
Four people sat their driving tests.
3
3 out of 4 passed; of them passed.
4
1
1 out of 4 failed; of them failed.
4

In the fraction

1
, 1 is the numerator and 4 is the denominator.
4

Fractions can be easier to see in diagram form;

1
4
means the whole has been divided into 4 pieces
and that we have 1 piece

The shape has been divided into four parts and 1 part is shaded.
1
4

Number of shaded parts

Total number of parts

Part 1 Section 4

Numerator
Denominator

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