Chapter 7 – Fractions

7.1 Fractions and Recurring Decimals

Walkthroughs
1. Change a fraction to a decimal using a calculator
1. Use division to convert fractions to decimals.

2. Convert a fraction to a repeating decimal using a calculator

The dots in recurring decimal notation are placed above the first and last digits that repeat.
Other notations are used: 0.0(185) or
The symbol ... is called an ellipsis and means 'and so on'. It shows that the pattern keeps repeating.

3. Use a simple number pattern to predict the recurring decimal form for a fraction.
 By knowing some simple recurring decimals and their fraction forms, you can easily convert many others.
Recurring decimals obey all the same rules as other decimals.

Key words
equivalent decimal - use division to convert a fraction to an equivalent decimal
recurring decimal The number 0.71717171… is a recurring decimal as the digits 7 and 1 carry on repeating forever. You can write
0.71717171… with the three dots at the end to show that the number goes on forever. You can also write the number as 0.7..1.0.7..1., with
dots above the 7 and the 1, to show that the 7 and 1 carry on repeating forever.
When you convert the fraction 114114 to a decimal, you get 1 ÷ 14 = 0.0714285 714285714285…
You can see that 714285 in the decimal is repeating, so you write this as 0.0714285, and put a dot above the 7 and the 5 to show that all the
digits from 7 to 5 are repeated.
A recurring decimal can always be written as a fraction
terminating decimal - The decimal 0.625 is a terminating decimal because it comes to an end.
unit fraction
improper fraction
mixed number
Facts
 Zara is correct. 1 16 = 0.0625 and 1 32 = 0.03125. Half of 0.5 is 0.25. From now on every halving means halving a decimal number with
25 on the end. Half of 25 is 12.5, so the final two digits of each fraction after 0.5 will always end in 25
 For example: All the fractions with a denominator which is a multiple of 3 are recurring decimals.
 For example: The fractions with denominator 5, 10, 20, 40 (i.e. doubling each time) are terminating decimals. 1 5 =0.2, 1 10=0.1, 1 20
=0.05, 1 40 =0.025, 1 80 =0.0125
 For example: Terminating, because all the denominators are factors of 100
 For example, recurring, because all the denominators are multiples of 3.
 For example: It’s rounded the last 8 on the screen to a 9.

DIFFERENT METHODS FOR CONVERTING

There are several methods that can be used to convert fractions to decimals:
1. Change the denominator to a power of 10 (like 10, 100, 1000 etc).
2. Divide the numerator by the denominator.
3. Memorise some common conversions.

Change the denominator to a power of 10 (like 10, 100, 1000 etc).

l
  Matching fractions and decimals
Matching Fractions and Decimals

7.1 Fractions and recurring decimals

Level 1

1. Write as a decimal
Ans: 0.75

2. Write as a decimal
Ans: 0.3
decimal
3. All fractions can be converted into a terminating decimal. True or False ?
Ans: False
4. How would you write 0.015151515...?
Ans :

5. Find True or false

Ans: True
6. Choose correct option

Ans

7. Write as a decimal
Ans: 0.8
8. Choose the correct option
 Ans: d

Level 2

1. Write as a decimal
Ans: 0.125
2. Choose the correct option

Ans: b
3. Choose the correct option

Ans: a

4. Use your calculator to find out whether is a terminating or a recurring decimal.

Ans: R

5. How do you write as a decimal?

 Ans: d

6. Use your calculator to find as a decimal. Is your answer a terminating or a recurring decimal?
Ans: R

Level 3
1. Choose the correct option

Ans: False

2. Complete the below sentence

3. Which fraction is the smallest?

 Change , and to decimals to compare them.

Ans

4. How many recurring digits are there in the decimal form ?

Ans: 2 digits

5. 0.076576576576576... is written as:

Ans: b

6. Complete the recurring decimal for this fraction

Ans: 0.2
 7. Select all of these fractions that convert to recurring decimals.

Ans: b and d

8. Which fraction is the smallest?

Ans: ¾
Challenge
1. Answer the below question

Ans:0.63
2. Answer the below question
 Ans: 6 digits
3. Answer the below questions

Ans: 0.3-0.1=0.2
4. Answer the below question

Ans: 0.3+0.16=0.46
5. Complete the recurring decimal for this fraction.
 Ans: 0.63
6. Complete the fraction for this recurring decimal.

Ans: 5

7.2 Ordering Fractions

When you write fractions in order of size, you must first compare them.
You can compare fractions in two ways.
1. Write them as fractions which have the same denominator.
2. Write them as decimals.
Walkthroughs

Use mathematical symbols when comparing fractions

Use the symbols <, > or = to compare various fractions.
Back
Ans: b > stands for ‘is more than’ or ‘is greater than’.
7 elevenths is bigger than 5 elevenths.

Ans: b If I cut a cake into eight pieces, each piece is larger than if I cut it into ten pieces.
So each eighth is bigger than each tenth.
Therefore three-eighths are bigger than three-tenths.

Next Step
Ans : c. If you divide 21 and 24 by 3, you get .

So can be simplified to be .
Ans
Ans
The lowest common denominator is 55 because it is the smallest number both 11 and 5 go into.

2 =2

2 =2
Walkthrough 2
Find fractions that fit these different conditions:

 fractions between and

 fractions greater than

3 lies between 2 and 4, so lies between and .

One fifth is bigger than one seventh, so > .

Quarters are bigger than sevenths, so > .

is the same as 1 . is less than 1, so is much larger than .

The denominator tells you the size of each piece of the fraction. The larger the denominator, the smaller each piece.
To compare fractions, you may need to convert them so that they have the same denominator.

Level 1
1. Which fraction is the largest?
 Ans: c
2. Which is the largest of these three fractions?

Ans: a
3. Enter the missing numerator

Ans: 8

4. What is the lowest common denominator for and ?

Ans: 12
5. Enter the missing denominator.
 Ans: 20

6. Comparing and , which statement is true?

Ans a

7. Which letter shows – correctly placed on the number line?

Ans: B
8. What does the symbol > mean?

Level 2
1. Put these fractions in order of size, starting with the smallest.
20 7 28
45 18 64
Ans: 718,28/64 and 20/45
2. Which symbol is missing from the above statement?

And: =
3. Which fraction is bigger?
 Ans: 7/12

4. Arrange the fractions , and in ascending order?

Ans:
5. Which of the following symbols would you put in the blue box to make statement true?

Ans:<
6. Which symbol is missing from the below statement?

Ans: <
7. Complete the decimal value for these fractions to work out the smaller fraction

Ans: 0.625, 5/8

8. Select the true statement.
 Ans: d. larger than one
Level 3
1. Enter the largest whole number that can make this statement true.

Ans: 47
2. Complete the decimal value for these fractions.

Ans: 0.85,0.746,>
3. Enter the smallest whole number that can make this statement true.
 Ans: 5/11
4. Complete the decimal value for these fractions

Ans: 0.218, 0.2148, 537, 2500, 109 and 500

5. What is the symbol missing from this statement?

Ans: <

6. When placing – and – on the number line:

Ans: b
7. Complete the decimal value for these fractions.
 Ans: 0.365,0.6 and <

8. What is the lowest common denominator for and ?

Ans: 60

9. Write , and in descending order.

Ans: 13/15, 5/6, 4/5

Challenge

1. Tarek, Omar and Kaycee were all given the same amount of money

Tarek spent of his money, Omar spent of his money, and Kaycee spent of her money
Who had the most money left?
Ans: Omar

2. By using a common denominator larger than 12, find the fraction that is a quarter of the way between and
(Write your answer in its simplest form.)
Ans: 13/48

3. A < B < C means that B is a number between A and C. Enter the missing whole number.
 Ans: 7

4. Which number line shows –3 correctly positioned?

Ans: b

5. Convert these decimals to fractions in their simplest form and place them in order of size, starting with the smallest fraction
0.45 , 0.36 , 0.42
Ans: 9/25, 21/50, 9/20

6. Find the decimal value for these fractions and use them to put the fractions in order of size, starting with the smallest fraction.

Ans: 6/11, 5/9, 7/12

7. Convert these decimals to fractions in their simplest form and place them in order of size, starting with the largest fraction
 0.235 , 0.236 , 0.2342
Ans: 59/250, 47/200, 1171/5000

8. By writing the fractions and using a common denominator, find the fraction that is exactly halfway between them.
(Write your answer in its simplest form.)
Ans: 6/35

7. 3 Subtracting Mixed numbers

If the denominators are different, you must write the fractions as equivalent fractions with a common denominator, then subtract the
numerators.
Here is a method for subtracting mixed numbers.
1. Change each mixed number into an improper fraction.
2. Subtract the improper fractions and cancel this answer to its simplest form.
3. If the answer is an improper fraction, change it back to a mixed number.
Adding Mixed Numbers
Mixed Numbers Subtraction
7.3 Subtracting mixed numbers

Here is a method for subtracting mixed numbers.

1. Change each mixed number into an improper fraction.
2. Subtract the improper fractions and cancel this answer to its simplest form.
3. If the answer is an improper fraction, change it back to a mixed number.
Walkthrough 1
Subtract a mixed number from a mixed number where the second fraction is larger than the first.

Find 9 −2 without using a calculator.

You could change both mixed numbers into improper fractions, find a common denominator and subtract. This results in working with very
large numbers.

Or you could change 7 into 6 to allow you to subtract .

Level 1

1. The answer to 5 − \(1{\large\frac{2}{3}}\) will be:

Ans: c
2. Enter the missing denominator.
 Ans: 5
3. When adding or subtracting fractions you need to make sure they have the same:

Ans: b

4. Write as a mixed number.

Ans:
5. Calculate

6. Think about the size of . The answer to 2 − will be:

Ans: c
 7. A mixed number is:

Ans: c
8. What is the missing numerator in this working?

Ans: 2

Level 2

1. \(4{\large\frac{3}{5}}\) − \(1{\large\frac{1}{5}}\) =
Ans:3 2/5
2. Workout

3. Which answer will be less than 1?

 Ans : b

4. Complete this working.

 5. Write 1 as an improper fraction to complete the calculation

Ans: 9/10
6. Workout

Ans:

Level 3
1. What is the missing mixed number?

2. Complete this working.

Ans

3. Complete this answer.

 4. The sum of two numbers is 2 . One of the numbers is . What is the other number?

Ans:

5. Albert was asked to babysit for 512512 hours. So far he has completed 345345 hours.

How much longer will it be until he finishes?

Ans: 1 hr 42 mins

6. Find the answer to this subtraction without using a calculator.

Ans:

Challange

1. The perimeter of a parallelogram is 40 cm.

Each of the two shorter sides of the parallelogram is 6 cm.

What is the length of the each of two longer sides?
 Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form

Ans:

2. Francine had 17 metres of ribbon on a roll. She cut two lengths of ribbon, m and 1 m.
How much ribbon was left on the roll?

Ans:

3. Kassim took a total time of 5 hours to drive from his home to a hotel.

On the way he stopped for 2 hours to do some shopping and 1 hour to have some lunch. How long did Kassim spend driving?
Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.

Ans:
4. Find the missing part of this calculation.

Ans :
5. A cat normally weighs 37 kg.

The weight of the cat fell by 2 kg and then fell by a further 3 kg.
What was the final weight of the cat?
Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.

Ans:

6. A shop has 5 crates of soft drink.

If they sell 2 crates, how many crates remain?

(Write your answer in its simplest form.)

Ans:

7.4 Multiplying an integer by a mixed number

You already know how to multiply a fraction by an integer.

For example: 23×1223×12 Solution: 12 ÷ 3 = 4 and 2 × 4 = 8
You also know how to multiply two integers together using partitioning.
For example: 8 × 23 = 8 × 20 + 8 × 3 Solution: 160 + 24 = 184
You can now combine these methods to multiply an integer by a mixed number
 Walkthrough 1
Use a mental strategy to multiply a whole number and a mixed numeral.
Level 1

1. You would estimate 7 × 3 to be

 Ans: d

2. The answer to 50 × 1 will be:

Ans: c

3. Calculate 2 × 15 and × 15 separately.

Use these answers to complete the following multiplication.

Ans:

4. What would you estimate 2 × 8 to be?

 Ans: c

5. Using a mental strategy to find 5 × 3 , you would

Ans: a

6. The answer to 30 × 1 will be

Ans: c

Level 2

1. Enter numbers to complete the working.

Ans: 42

2. Calculate 2 × 15.
Ans: 35
3. 3 is 3 + .

And so

3 ×8=3×8+ ×8
Use this to work out the final answer.

Ans:

4. Enter numbers to complete the working.

Ans:
5. Fill in the missing number that makes this equation true.
 Ans: 8

Level 3

1. A quarter of 20 is 5. Therefore:

Ans: 15, 115

2. A sixth of 12 is 2.

4 is almost 5.

Use these two facts to calculate 4 × 12 using a mental strategy.

Ans: 58

3. A third of 21 is 7

Therefore:

× 21 = ?
and

1 × 21 =?

Ans: 14 and 35

4. Fill in the missing number that makes this equation true.

Ans: 15
 5. Enter your answer to this calculation as a mixed numeral in its simplest form. (Do not use a calculator.)

Ans:

Challenge

1. It takes 2 minutes for a teacher to mark a piece of homework.

The teacher has 30 pieces of homework to mark.

How many minutes will it take the teacher to mark all the homework?
Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.

Ans:

2. A rectangle has a length of 9 cm and a width of 3 cm.

What is the area of the rectangle?

Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.

Ans:
3. A regular octagon has sides of length 5 cm

What is the perimeter of the octagon?

Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.

Ans:

4. Find the answer to this calculation.

Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.

Ans:
5. Martha and Lin decide to divide a box of pencils between them using the ratio of their ages

Martha is 8 years old and Lin is 12 years old. Martha gets 6 pencils.
How many pencils does Lin get?
Ans: 9

7.5 Divide an Integer by a fraction

 Level 1

1) What is the reciprocal of ?

2) Complete the equivalent calculation.

Ans:

3) When you divide by a fraction you should multiply by the ___________.

Select the correct word to complete this statement.
 Ans: b
4) The reciprocal of 2 is

Ams:

5)

Ans:

6) Write the reciprocal of

Ans:

7) If 4 ÷ = 20, then

Ans: 10
8) To divide by a fraction you multiply by its:
9)

7.6