Refresh Numerical fractions

Fractions, decimals and percentages

Some real numbers can be expressed as exact fractions, that is, as one
whole number divided by another whole number, such as:
3
5 (= 3 ÷ 5); 2 41 = 9
4 (= 9 ÷ 4); − 27 (= −2 ÷ 7, or equally 2 ÷ −7.)
The number written above the line or bar in a fraction is called the
numerator, and the number written below the line is called the
denominator.

Converting fractions into decimals

Fractions are converted into decimals by dividing the numerator by

the denominator.

Example 1
Convert 35 , 2 14 and − 27 into decimals.
Solution
(a) 3
5 = 3 ÷ 5 = 0.6
(b) 2 14 = 9
4 = 9 ÷ 4 = 2.25
(c) − 27 = −(2 ÷ 7) = −0.285 714 285 714 . . .

In (a) and (b) above, the division process terminates.

In (c) above, the division process does not terminate but goes into a
repeating loop that generates the digits 285714 over and over again. The
decimal for − 27 is said to be recurring, and can be written as −0.2̇85 714̇,
where the two dots above the digits 2 and 4 indicate the block of digits
that is repeated.
If the result of a calculation is a final answer to a question, it can be
rounded by making a statement like: − 72 = −0.2857 to four decimal places.
Numbers which are going to be used in subsequent calculations should not
be rounded.

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Equivalent fractions

When the numerator and denominator of a fraction are both

multiplied or divided by the same whole number (other than 0), the
new fraction obtained is equal to the original one, and the two
fractions are called equivalent fractions. They are represented by
the same point on the number line.

Example 2
Write down the fractions equivalent to 35 which are obtained by multiplying
its numerator and denominator by each of the following numbers.
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 10 (d) 20 (e) −1
Solution
3×2 6 3×3 9 3 × 10 30
(a) = (b) = (c) =
5×2 10 5×3 15 5 × 10 50
3 × 20 60 3 × −1 −3
(d) = (e) =
5 × 20 100 5 × −1 −5

In a complete set of equivalent fractions, the fraction with the

smallest possible positive denominator is said to be the fraction in
its lowest terms. This is found from any one of the equivalent
fractions by cancelling, that is, by successive division of the Any whole number that divides
numerator and denominator by each of their common prime factors. into each of two numbers is
(This is equivalent to division by the HCF of the numerator and called a common factor of
those numbers.
denominator.)

Example 3
28 360
Express (a) 42 and (b) 240 as fractions in their lowest terms.
Solution
(a) We have 28 = 2 × 2 × 7 and 42 = 2 × 3 × 7, so the common prime
factors are 2 and 7. Hence
28 4
42 = 6 (dividing by 7)
2
= 3 (dividing by 2).

24 (dividing by 10 = 2 × 5)
360 36
(b) 240 =
2 (dividing by 12 = 2 × 2 ×
3
= 3)
In practice, spotting ‘large’ common factors, as here, is an efficient way
to proceed.

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Calculations involving fractions
Adding and subtracting fractions

Two fractions are added (or subtracted) by converting each of them

into equivalent fractions with the same denominator, adding (or
subtracting) these equivalent fractions and, where appropriate,
converting the result to a fraction in its lowest terms.

Example 4
Evaluate each of the following and express the result in its lowest terms.
(a) 1
2 + 1
3 (b) 2
3 − 1
4 (c) 1
5 + 3
10
Solution
1 1 3 2 5
(a) 2 + 3 = 6 + 6 = 6
Notice that in this case the denominator of the equivalent fractions is
the product of the denominators of the original fractions.
(b) 2
3 − 4 = 12 − 12 = 12
1 8 3 5

1 3 2 3 5 1
(c) 5 + 10 = 10 + 10 = 10 = 2
In this solution the equivalent fraction denominator used is the lowest
common multiple of the denominators of the original fractions.
However, the same final result would be obtained by using the product
of the denominators:
1 3 10 15 25
5 + 10 = 50 + 50 = 50 = 12 .
The reason for choosing to use lowest common denominators is to keep
the numbers involved in calculating the equivalent fractions small
enough to be done mentally quickly and easily.

Multiplying fractions

The product of two fractions is obtained by multiplying their

numerators and multiplying their denominators, to give a new
numerator and denominator respectively, then, where appropriate,
converting the result to a fraction in its lowest terms.

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Example 5
Evaluate each of the following and express the result in its lowest terms.
(a) 1
2 × 2
3 (b) 3
4 × 5
8
Solution
(a) 1
2 × 2
3 = 2 1
6 = 3
(b) 3
4 × 5
8 = 15
32

The next example shows how to deal with division involving fractions.

Example 6
Evaluate each of the following and express the result in its lowest terms.
(a) 4 ÷ 1
2 (b) 1
2 ÷ 1
4 (c) 2
3 ÷ 1
3 (d) 4
5 ÷ 2
3
Solution
(a) 4 ÷ 1
2
This question is the same as ‘how many halves are there in 4?’. The
answer is 8 as there are 2 halves in 1, so there will be 4 times 2 halves
in 4.
That is, 4 ÷ 1
2 is the same as 4 × 2
1 = 8.
(b) 1
2 ÷ 1
4
In words, this question is asking ‘how many quarters in one half?’.
The answer is 2.
1
2 ÷ 1
4 = 1
2 × 4
1 = 4
2 = 2.
(c) 2
3 ÷ 1
3 = 2
3 × 3
1 = 6
3 = 2.
(d) 4
5 ÷ 2
3 = 4
5 × 3
2 = 12 6
10 = 5 .
An alternative way of simplifying a product of fractions is to employ
‘cross cancellation’. For example,
4
5 ÷ 2
3 = 5 ×
4 3
2

5 ×
2 3
= 1 (here 2 has been divided into 4 and 2)
6
= 5.

Dividing fractions

To divide a number by a fraction, multiply the number by the

fraction turned ‘upside down’. Another name for this ‘upside down
number’ is ‘reciprocal’, a term which is explained more fully in the
next subsection.