FRACTIONS Electrical MATH13431 N.

Potter

INTRODUCTION
 Fractions deal with wholes divided into equal sized parts.
 The denominator shows how many parts the whole is divided into. The denominator is the divisor.
 The numerator shows the number of parts being considered. The numerator is the dividend.
 The fraction line means to divide the numerator by the denominator (or divide the denominator into the numerator).
Eg. represents three parts of a whole divided into 4 equal parts

Any fraction with a denominator of 1 is equal to its numerator. Eg.

Any whole number can be written as a fraction with a denominator of 1 Eg. 60 becomes the fraction

EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS: Equal fractions with different denominators

Building up fractions makes their numbers larger.
This is usually required when adding or subtracting
fractions.To build up a fraction, multiply numerator and
denominator by the same number.
Eg. Write as a fraction with a denominator 16
Reducing fractions makes their numbers smaller.
This is done to express the fraction in its lowest terms for a final
answer. To reduce a fraction, divide numerator and denominator
by the same number.
Eg. Reduce : [Hint: Remember the divisibility rules]

Practice:
1. Build up the following fractions as indicated:
a) b) c) d)

2. Reduce the following fractions to lowest terms.

a) b) c) d) e) f) g)

3. Is it possible to have a outside diameter pipe with an inside diameter of ?

4. Which piece is thicker: piece A with thickness or piece B with thickness ?

Answers: 1) a) 10/16, b) 26/64, c) 35/60, d) 12/64, 2) a) ¼, b) 2/3, c) 7/16, d) 1/4 , e) ¾, f) 3/8, g) 1/8, 3) No, 4) piece A .

IMPROPER FRACTIONS AND MIXED NUMBERS:

 Proper Fraction: a fraction whose numerator is smaller than its denominator Eg.
 Improper Fraction: a fraction whose numerator is larger than its denominator Eg.
 Mixed Number: consists of a whole number added to a proper fraction. Eg.
To Convert an Improper Fraction to a Mixed Number:
1. Divide the denominator into the numerator.
2. The quotient is the mixed number’s whole number.
3. The remainder over the original denominator is the
fraction part.
To Convert a Mixed Number to an Improper Fraction:
1. Multiply the whole number by the denominator.
2. Add this product to the numerator.
3. Place this sum over the denominator for the final answer.
Eg. Write as an improper fraction:

Eg. Write as a mixed number:

So

Practice:
1. Write as mixed numbers: a) b) c) d) e)

2. Write as improper fractions: a) b) c) d) 2 e)

Answers: 1) a) 1 4/5, b)20 ¾, c) 16 ½, d) 9, e) 6 13/32 , 2) a) 25/8, b) 39/4, c) 99/8, d) 79/32, e) 243/5 .

LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR (LCD):

The LCD is the smallest whole number that is exactly divisible by each denominator of the fractions. Find LCD by:
 Inspection; particularly see if the smaller denominators divide evenly into the largest one.
 Making lists of multiples of each denominator. The LCD is the smallest number common to all lists.
 Using prime factors: The LCD must have the minimum number of prime number parts from all denominators.

To find LCD using lists of multiples: To find LCD using prime factors:
1. For the first denominator, make a list of multiples by 1. Using a factor tree or other similar method, list the prime
multiplying by 1, 2, 3, and so on. factors of each denominator.
2. Repeat for the second denominator. 2. The LCD will have the minimum number of prime number
3. Compare both lists. The LCD is the smallest common parts to accommodate each denominator.
number in both lists. Eg. Find the LCD of :

Eg. Find the LCD of and Factor trees for 12, 15, and 30:

8: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72…

12: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72… LCD:

The LCD of 8 and 12 is 24. Note: 48, 72 and others are

common denominators, but are not the lowest.

Practice:
1. Find the LCD of the following fractions:

a) , b) , c) , d) , e) , f) , , g) , ,

Answers: 1) a) 16, b) 64, c) 30, d) 48, e) 36, f) 24, g) 60 .

ADDITION OF FRACTIONS:

YOU CANNOT ADD FRACTIONS UNTIL THE DENOMINATORS ARE THE SAME.

CASE 1: Adding fractions with the same denominator Eg. +

1. Use the common denominator in the 2. Add the numerators. Write this sum in 3. Reduce and change any improper
answer’s denominator. the answer’s numerator. fractions to mixed numbers.

+ + +

Practice: 1. Add the following fractions:

a) + b) + c) d) e) +

Answers: 1) a) 1, b) ½, c) 2/5, d) 1 1/8, e) 2 1/6 .

CASE 2: Adding fractions with different denominators Eg. +

1. Find the LCD of all fractions being 2. Add the numerators. Write this sum in 3. Reduce and change any improper
added. Build up each fraction so they have the answer’s numerator. The LCD is the fractions to mixed numbers.
the same denominator, the LCD. answer’s denominator.
+ LCD = 16
+
+ = + So +

Practice: 2. Add the following fractions:

a) b) c) d) e)

f) g) h) j) k)

Answers: 2) a) 7/8, b) 1 11/32, c) 1 13/16, d) 1 7/8, e) 1 13/16, f) 1 3/8, g) ½, h) 17/24, j) 29/48, k) 31/45 .
 CASE 3: ADDING MIXED NUMBERS:
 Add the whole numbers. Add the fractions using the rules above. Combine the two parts and simplify.

Eg. 5 + 12

Practice: Unit 6, p. 39, odds as needed

3. Add the following:

a) b) c) d) e)

Answers: 3) a) 10 1/16, b) 65 3/16, c) 8 11/20, d) 35 5/16, e) 85 1/24 .

SUBTRACTION OF FRACTIONS:

YOU CANNOT SUBTRACT FRACTIONS UNTIL THE DENOMINATORS ARE THE SAME.

CASE 1: SUBTRACTING PROPER FRACTIONS: Eg.

1. Find the LCD of all the fractions. Build up each 2. Subtract the numerators. Write this difference in the answer’s
fraction so they have the same denominator, the LCD. numerator. The LCD is the answer’s denominator. Reduce and change
any improper fractions to mixed numbers.
= =

Practice: 1. Subtract:
a) b) c) d) e) f)

Answers: 1) a) 3/8, b) 13/32, c) 1/16, d) 1/12, e) 13/36, f) 13/40 .

CASE 2: SUBTRACTING FROM WHOLE NUMBERS: Eg.

1. Borrow 1 from the whole number. Write this as a fraction with the 2. Subtract the fraction parts. Subtract the whole
same denominator as the fraction being subtracted. To make the new numbers. Combine for the final answer.
fraction equal 1, make its numerator the same as the denominator.

Practice: 2. Subtract:
a) b) c) d) e)

Answers: 2) a) 2 ¾, b) 48 29/32, c) 1/8, d) 4 49/64, e) 27 4/9 .

 CASE 3: SUBTRACTING MIXED NUMBERS WITH BORROWING: Eg.

1. Find the LCD of all the fractions. Build up each fraction. If the first 2. Now that the first numerator is larger than the
numerator is smaller than the second, borrow 1 from the whole number. second, subtract the fraction parts. Subtract the
Attach the borrowed 1 to the fraction part and change this to an improper whole numbers. Combine for the final answer.
fraction.

CASE 4: SUBTRACTING MIXED NUMBERS BY CHANGING TO IMPROPER FRACTIONS: Eg.

1. Find the LCD of all the fractions. Build up each fraction. Change each 2. Subtract. Express the final answer as a mixed
mixed number to improper fractions. number.

Practice: Unit 7, p. 44, odds as needed

1. Subtract:
a) b) c) d) e)

Answers: 1) a) 1 3/8, b) 3 3/8, c) 1 11/12, d) 2 29/32, e) 44 9/16 .

MULTIPLICATION OF FRACTIONS:
Eg.

1. DON’T FIND THE LCD.
Change any mixed numbers
to improper fractions.
Eg.
2. Cancel common factors
from any numerator with any
denominator.
3. Multiply the remaining
numerators to get the answer’s
numerator. Multiply the
remaining denominators to get
the answer’s denominator.
4. Change improper fractions to
mixed numbers. If you didn’t do
step 2, reduce the fraction.

Practice: Unit 8, p. 50, odds as needed

1. Multiply:
a) b) c) d)
e) f) g)

Answers: 1) a) ¼, b) ¼, c) 1/8, d) 3 3/8, e) 7 ½, f) 7, g) 10 7/20 .

DIVISION OF FRACTIONS:
Eg.

1. DON’T FIND THE LCD. 2. DO NOT CANCEL like factors 3. Now with the sign, cancel 4. Continue with the steps for
Change any mixed numbers across the sign. Change the common factors from any multiplying.
to improper fractions. sign to a sign, and invert numerator with any
the second fraction. denominator.

Eg.

Practice: Unit 9, p. 53, odds as needed; Unit 10, p. 56, odds as needed (BEDMAS with fractions)

1. Divide:
a) b) c) d)

e) f) g)

Answers:, 1) a) 1 1/6, b) 1 1/15, c) 1 2/9, d) 2/7, e) 2/3, f) 20, g) 6 2/3 .