A fraction is a part of a whole.

A number of the form pq, where p and q are whole numbers and q≠0 is known as a
fraction.
In the fractionpq, p is called the numerator and q is called the denominator.
The numerator tells us how many parts are considered of the whole.
The denominator tells us how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

Note: Usually fractions are written in their lowest terms.

The numerator and the denominator of a fractions in its lowest are

coprime.

That is, their H. C.F. is 1.

Types of fractions:
(i) Simple fraction: A fraction in its lowest terms is known as a
simple fraction.

e.g.,1225,57,−43etc.,

(ii) Decimal fraction: A fraction whose denominator is 10, 100, 1000

etc., is called a decimal fraction.

e.g.,310,7100,241000,1311000etc.

(iii) Vulgar fraction: A fraction whose denominator is a whole number

other than 10, 100, 1000, etc., is called a vulgar fraction.

e.g.,29,413,1120,27109etc.,

(iv) Proper fraction: A fraction whose numerator is less than its

denominator is called a proper fraction.

e.g.,37,511,2340,73100etc.,

(v) Improper fraction: A fraction whose numerator is greater than or

equal to its denominator is called an improper fraction.

e.g.,117,2512,4136,5353etc.,

(vi) Mixed fraction: A number which can be expressed as the sum of a

natural number and a proper fraction is called a mixed fraction.

e.g.,134,457,7313,1265etc.,

Like fractions: Fractions having the same denominator but different numerators are
called like fractions.
 e.g.,514,914,1114,etc.,

Unlike fractions: Fractions having different denominators are called unlike

fractions,
e.g.,25,57,913,etc.,

An important property: If the numerator and denominator of a fraction are both

multiplied by the same none zero number, its value is not changed.
Thus,34,=3×24×2=3×34×3=3×44×4etc.,

Equivalent fractions: A given fraction and the fraction obtained by multiplying (or
dividing) its numerator and denominator by the same non-zero number, are called
equivalent fractions.
E.g., Equivalent fractions of 912are 34,68,1216 etc.,

Method of changing unlike fractions to like fractions:

Step 1: Find the L.C.M. of the denominators of all the given fractions.

Step 2: Change each of the given fractions into an equivalent fraction

having denominator equal to the L.C.M. of the denominators of the given fractions.

g., convert the fraction 56,79and1112 into like fractions.

L.C.M. of 6, 9 and 12 = 3×2 ×3 × 2 = 36

Now,56=5×66×6=3036;79=7×49×4=2836 and

1112×11×312×3=3336.
Clearly, 3036,2836and 3336 are like fractions.

Irreducible fractions: A fraction abis said to be irreducible or in lowest terms,

if the H.C.F of a and b is 1. They are also called simple fractions.

If H.C.F. of a and b is not 1, thenabis said to be reducible.

Comparing fractions: Let ab and cd be two given fractions. Then,

(a)ab>cd⇔ad>bc (b)ab=cd⇔ab=bc
(iii) ab>cd⇔ad<bc

Method of comparing more than two fractions:

Step 1: Find the LC.M. of the denominators of the given fractions. Let
it be m.

Step 2: Convert all the given fractions into like fractions, each
having m as denominator.
 Step 3: Now, if we compare any two of these like fractions, then the
one having larger numerator is larger.

Addition and subtraction of fractions:

(i) Add/Subtract like fractions:

To add/subtract like fractions, add/subtract the numerators and place

the sum/ difference on the same denominator as that of the given fractions.

e.g.,(1) Add27 and 37.

27+37=2+37=57
e.g., (2) Subtract 47from67.

(ii) Add/Subtract unlike fractions:

To add/subtract unlike fractions, first convert them into like

fractions and proceed as in (i).

e.g., (1) Add 13,25and37

LC.M of 3, 5 and 7 is 105.

e.g., (2) Subtract 34from712.

Multiplication of fractions:
Multiplying a whole number with a proper or an improper fraction: To
multiply a whole number with a proper or an improper fraction, we multiply the
whole number with the numerator of the fraction, keeping the denominator same.

e.g.,14×49=129=129=43

Multiplying a whole number by a mixed fraction: To multiply a whole number by a

mixed fraction, first convert the mixed fraction to an improper fraction and then
multiply.
e.g.,14×237=14×177=37

Multiplying a fraction by a fraction: The product of two or more fractions is the

product of their numerators divided by the product of their denominators expressed
in lowest terms i.e., ifab andcd are the fractions then their product
isacbdexpressed in the lowest terms.

Calculating fractional part of a quantity:

To know the fractional part of a quantity, the fraction and the
quantity are multiplied.

e.g., 13of Rs. 90 =Rs.13×90= Rs.30

Reciprocal of a fraction:
Two fractions are said to be the reciprocal of each other, if their
product is 1.

e.g.,49and94 and are the reciprocals of each other, since(49×94)=1.

In general, ifabis a non-zero fraction, then its reciprocal is.ba.

Note: Reciprocal of o does not exist.

Division of fractions:
Division of a whole number by any fraction: To divide a whole number by
a fraction, we have to multiply the whole number by the reciprocal of the given
fraction.

e.g.,3÷225=3÷125=3×512=54

Division of a fraction by a whole number: To divide a fraction by a whole number,

we have to multiply the given fraction by the reciprocal of the whole number.
e.g.425÷11=225×111=25
While dividing a mixed fraction by a whole number, convert the mixed
fraction into an improper fraction and then divide.

Division of a fraction by another fraction: To divide a fraction by another

fraction, we have to multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second.
e.g.,314÷215=134÷115=134×511=6544=12144