Introduction to Fractions

Reducing Fractions to Lowest Terms

Fractions should be expressed in lowest terms. To reduce a fraction, see if there is a

number that can be divided evenly into both the numerator and the denominator.
4
 For example: The fraction, , can be reduced since both the numerator and the denominator
8
can be divided by 4.

4 divided .by 4 1 4 1
= So, can be reduced to .
8 divided .by 4 2 8 2

Check your answer to see if another number can be divided evenly into both the numerator
and denominator. If that is the case, reduce it again. Continue this process until the fraction
can no longer be reduced. The fraction is then in lowest terms.

Reduce the following fractions to lowest terms:

6 3 4
1.) = = =
10 9 24

7 12 50
2.) = = =
21 36 500

10 6 20
3.) = = =
25 42 240

16 30 18
4.) = = =
48 40 36

18 63 16
5.) = = =
45 90 64

2 12 11
6.) = = =
6 15 55

7 14 15
7.) = = =
35 42 100

13 15 36
8.) = = =
26 20 81
1
 Raising Fractions to Higher Terms

When you are adding and subtracting fractions, the fractions need to have a common
denominator. If the fractions do not have a common denominator, you need to raise one
or more of the fractions to higher terms to get a common denominator. To do this, you
multiply the numerator and denominator by the same number.

2
 For example: To change to , you first determine what number you need to
3 24
multiply the denominator, 3, in the first fraction by in order to get the denominator, 24,
in the new fraction. You need to multiply the 3 by 8 to get the denominator 24, since 3
times 8 = 24.

When you multiply the denominator of the first fraction by 8, you also need to
multiply its numerator by 8 so that the fraction keeps its same value.

Multiplying the numerator, 2, of the first fraction by 8, you determine that the
16
numerator of the new fraction is 16, which gives you the new fraction .
24

2 x 8 16
To illustrate the calculation: =
3 x 8 24

Raise the following fractions to higher terms:

2 5 3 7 15
1) = = = = =
5 15 6 30 4 24 8 16 16 32

1 2 3 5 2
2) = = = = =
2 4 3 15 5 20 7 63 9 27

3 3 7 2 1
3) = = = = =
10 30 4 44 12 24 15 45 4 12

2
 Changing Improper Fractions to Whole Numbers & Mixed Numbers

Improper fractions should be changed to whole numbers or mixed numbers. A fraction is

actually a division problem; it means that the numerator is divided by the denominator.

21
 For instance, the improper fraction, , means the numerator, 21, is divided by the
3
21
denominator, 3. 21 divided by 3 is equal to 7, so = 7.
3

15
 For another example, the improper fraction, , means the numerator, 15, is divided by
12
3 1
the denominator, 12. 15 divided by 12 is equal to 1 , which reduces to 1 .
12 4

5
 The improper fraction, , means that the numerator, 5, is divided by the denominator, 5.
5
5
5 divided by 5 is equal to 1, so = 1. Anytime the numerator and denominator are
5
equal to each other, the fraction is equal to 1.

Change the following improper fractions to whole numbers or mixed numbers, reducing
the fraction if necessary:

7 6 12 20
1) = = = =
3 6 4 5

16 5 10 16
2) = = = =
15 3 7 4

12 3 29 20
3) = = = =
5 2 14 3

75 55 75 28
4) = = = =
25 25 9 6

3
 Changing Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions

To multiply or divide fractions involving mixed numbers, you need to change the mixed
numbers into improper fractions. To do this, you multiply the denominator of the fraction
times the whole number, add the numerator of the fraction, and put this number on top of
denominator of the original fraction.

3
 For example, for the mixed number, 7 , multiply the denominator of the fraction, 5,
5
times the whole number, 7, resulting in 35. To this, you add the numerator of the fraction,
3, which results in 38. This becomes the numerator of the improper fraction. This is put
3 (5 x7  3) 38
on top of the denominator of the original fraction, 5. Thus 7 = = .
5 5 5

1 9 (4 x 2  1) 9
 Another example is: 2 = , which is calculated as: =
4 4 4 4

Change the following mixed numbers to improper fractions:

1 2 1
1) 4 = 3 = 5 =
5 3 2

3 1 5
2) 7 = 10 = 6 =
4 5 6

7 1 3
3) 8 = 14 = 20 =
8 2 5

4 5 15
4) 9 = 11 = 1 =
5 9 16

4
 Introduction to Fractions
ANSWER KEY
Page 1 – Reducing Fractions to Lowest Terms

1.) 3 / 5 1/3 1/6

2.) 1 / 3 1/3 1 / 10

3.) 2 / 5 1/7 1 / 12

4.) 1 / 3 3⁄4 1⁄2

5.) 2 / 5 7 / 10 1⁄4

6.) 1 / 3 4/5 1/5

7.) 1 / 5 1/3 3 / 20

8.) 1 ⁄ 2 3⁄4 4/9

Page 2 – Raising Fractions to Higher Terms

1.) 6 / 15 25 / 30 18 / 24 14 / 16 30 / 32

2.) 2 / 4 10 / 15 12 / 20 45 / 63 6 / 27

3.) 9 / 30 33 / 44 14 / 24 6 / 45 3 / 12

Page 3 – Changing Improper Fractions to Whole Numbers & Mixed Numbers

1.) 2 1/3 1 3 4

2.) 1 1/15 1 2/3 1 3/7 4

3.) 2 2/5 1 1⁄2 2 1/14 6 2/3

4.) 3 2 1/5 8 1/3 4 2/3

Page 4 – Changing Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions

1,) 21 / 5 11 / 3 11 / 2

2.) 31 / 4 51 / 5 41 / 6

3.) 71 / 8 29 / 2 103 / 5

4.) 49 / 5 104 / 9 31 / 16