Unit 7: FRACTIONS

7.1.- UNDERSTANDING FRACTIONS

You use fractions when you ...
... cut a slice from a cake ... colour part of a shape blue ... tell the time

1
Here is 1 out of the 6 pieces. 2 out of 5 parts are blue. The minute hand is of the way round.
4
1 2
This is of the cake is blue It’s quarter past 6
6 5

A fraction describes part of a whole.

In a fraction:

The top number shows The top number is

how many parts you have. 2 the numerator.

The bottom number shows The bottom number is

how many parts there are. 5 the denominator.

To use fractions the whole must be divided into equal-sized parts.

Example 1:
What fraction of this shape First divide the triangle into
is shaded? equal pieces.

3
There are 8 equal parts. 3 parts are shaded.
of the shape is shaded.
8
Example 2: Peter has £1 and spends 35p on chocolate. What fraction of his
money has he spent?

Divide his money into-equal sized parts: £1 = 100p.

35
He has spent 35p. He has spent of his money.
100
Notice that the units have to be the same before you can compare them using fractions.

F. Cano Cuenca 1 Mathematics 1º ESO

Exercise 1:

Use fractions to label the readings marked on each of these number lines:

a) b)

Exercise 2:

What fraction of:

a) £1 is 20p e) 60 mm is 3 cm
b) £10 is £3 f) 250 cm is 2 m
c) 60 mm is 20 mm g) 1 km is 150 m
d) 1 kg is 400 g h) 1 year is 72 hours

Exercise 3:

Design a flag with 4 colours. Each colour must be a different fraction of the
flag. Describe what fraction of the flag is made from each colour.

7.2.- EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS

You can write the same fraction in different ways:

1 2 3 1 2 3
The fractions , and are all equivalent. You can write = = .
2 4 6 2 4 6

You can write a fraction in its simplest form by cancelling.

You divide the numerator and the denominator by the highest common factor.

Examples:

You can find equivalent fractions by multiplying the numerator and denominator
by the same number.

Examples:

Look at the previous

F. Cano Cuenca 2 Mathematics 1º ESO

equivalent fractions:

Observe that if you cross-multiply the numerators and denominators, you get
the same number.

So you can test if two fractions are equivalent by cross-multiplying their

numerators and denominators. This is also called taking the cross-product.

4 6
Example: Are and equivalent fractions?
6 9
4 6
4×9 = 6×6 ⇒ =
6 9

The relationship between terms of equivalent fraction allows you to get each one
of the terms if you know the others.

3 9 36
Example: = ⇒ 3 ⋅ x = 36 ⇒ x = = 12
4 x 3

Exercise 4:

Cancel down each of these fractions to their simplest form by dividing the top
and bottom number by a common factor.

7 24 5 16 25 28
, , , , ,
63 60 40 36 100 42

Exercise 5:

1
This number line has been split into 30 equal parts, so that each part is .
30

Match each of these fractions to the letters

indicated on the number line.

F. Cano Cuenca 3 Mathematics 1º ESO

Exercise 6:

Calculate the value of x in each fraction.

2 x 4 16 x 6 6 30
a) = b) = c) = d) =
5 30 25 x 5 15 x 100

7.3.- MIXED NUMBERS. PROPER AND IMPROPER FRACTIONS

You often need to use numbers bigger than 1 which include fractions.

Numbers with a whole number part and a fraction are called mixed numbers.

2
Example: 3 means 3 whole numbers and 2 fifths.
5

2 17
So 3 =
5 5

17
A single fraction that is greater than 1, like , is called an improper fraction.
5
2
A single fraction that is less than 1, like , is called a proper fraction.
5

How to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions?

Multiply the whole number by the denominator and then add the numerator of the
proper fraction. The number you get is the numerator of the improper fraction.

The denominator is the same as the mixed number has.

Example:

How to convert improper fraction to mixed numbers?

12 7 5 5 12 5 7 3 3 1 1 7 1
= + =1+ ⇒ =1 = + + =2+ ⇒ =2
7 7 7 7 7 7 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

7
A quick way to convert is to divide by 3.
3

F. Cano Cuenca 4 Mathematics 1º ESO

Exercise 7:

Convert these mixed numbers to improper fractions.

2 4 3 5 7
a) 8 b) 2 c) 1 d) 3 e) 5
3 5 4 8 12

Exercise 8:

Convert each of these improper fractions to mixed numbers.

43 49 27 15 32
a) b) c) d) e)
3 10 7 4 5

Exercise 9:

1
This number line has been split into 12 equal parts, so that each part is .
12

Match each of these fractions to the letters

indicated on the number line.

7.4.- CONVERTING FRACTIONS TO DECIMALS

To convert a fraction to a decimal divide the numerator by the denominator.

Example: Write these fractions as a decimals.

13 1 2
a) b) c)
8 7 15

13 1.625 is a terminating decimal.

a) = 1.625
8

F. Cano Cuenca 5 Mathematics 1º ESO

 1 • •
b) = 0.142857142857142... 0.142857142... = 0.1 4285 7 is a recurring
7
decimal. The dots show the recurring group
of digits.

2 •
c) = 0.13333333... 0.1333333... = 0.1 3 is a recurring decimal.
15
The dot over the 3 shows the recurring
decimal.

To decide if a fraction will be a terminating or a recurring decimal, look at the

denominator.

• If the only factors of the denominator are 2 and/or 5 or combinations of

2 and 5 then the fraction will be a terminating decimal.

• If the denominator has any factors other than 2 and/or 5 then the
fraction will be a recurring decimal.

Exercise 10:

Convert these fractions to decimals.

3 5 4 17 31
a) b) c) d) e)
7 9 25 80 13

Exercise 11:

Without doing the division, state whether each of these fractions will give a
recurring decimal or a terminating decimal.

1 4 3 3 11
a) b) c) d) e)
25 11 20 126 128

7.5.- COMPARING FRACTIONS

Sometimes we need to compare two fractions to discover which is larger or
smaller. There are two easy ways to compare fractions: using decimals or using
the same denominator.

The decimal method of comparing fractions

Just convert each fraction to decimals, and then compare the decimals.

3 5
Example: Which is bigger, or ?
8 12

3 5 5
= 0.375 = 0.4166... is bigger
8 12 12

F. Cano Cuenca 6 Mathematics 1º ESO

The same denominator method
If two fractions have the same denominator then they are easy to compare:

To compare two or more fractions with different denominators:

• Find the common denominator.

• Work out the equivalent fractions.
• Write the fractions in ascending or descending order.

7 5 3
Example: Write these in ascending order.
8 6 4

The common denominator will be the least common multiple (LCM) of the
denominators.
LCM(8, 6, 4) = 24

7 21
= Multiply numerator and denominator by 3
8 24
5 20 18 20 21
= Multiply numerator and denominator by 4 < <
6 24 24 24 24
3 18
= Multiply numerator and denominator by 6
4 24

3 5 7
In ascending order the fractions are: , ,
4 6 8

Exercise 12:

Adam cut his pie into 8 pieces and ate 5. Rachel cut her pie into 6 pieces and
ate 3. Who has eaten a larger portion?

Exercise 13:
4 5 9
Put these fractions in order from smallest to largest: , and .
7 8 14

Exercise 14:

For each pair of fractions insert the appropriate sign Choose from: < , > or =

1 15 37 2 2 44 14 3 1 23
a) 4 b) 5 c) 3 d) 4 e) 7
3 3 5 5 3 12 3 4 2 5

F. Cano Cuenca 7 Mathematics 1º ESO

7.6.- ADDING AND SUBTRACTING FRACTIONS
It is easy to add or subtract fractions when they have the same denominator.

You can add or subtract fractions with different denominator by first writing
them as equivalent fractions with the same denominator.

3 1 3 5 7 3
Example: Calculate a) + b) 1 − c) 1 +2
5 3 4 7 10 5

3 1 9 5 14
a) + = + =
5 3 15 15 15

3 5 7 5 49 20 29 1
b) 1 − = − = − = =1
4 7 4 7 28 28 28 28
An alternative method is to write:
7 3 17 13 17 26 43 3
c) 1 +2 = + = + = =4 7 3 7 3
10 5 10 5 10 10 10 10 1+ +2+ =3+ + = ...
10 5 10 5

Exercise 15:

2 1
Peter walked 3 miles before lunch and then a further 2 miles after lunch.
3 4
How far did he walk altogether?

Exercise 16:

3 3
A bag weighs 2 lb when it is full. When empty the bag weighs lb. What is
16 8
the weight of the content of the bag?

Exercise 17:

Henry and Paula are eating pistachios. Henry was a full bag
3 4
weighing 1 kg. Paula has a bag that weighs kg. What is the
16 5
total mass of their two bags of pistachios?

F. Cano Cuenca 8 Mathematics 1º ESO

Exercise 18:

2 1
Simon spent of his wages on a mobile phone. He spent of his wages on a
3 5
trip to the theatre. Work out the fraction of his wages that he had left.

7.7.- MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING FRACTIONS

The diagram shows the multiplication

2 3 6 1
⋅ = =
3 4 12 2

You get the same result if you multiply the numerators

together and multiply the denominators together.

To multiply fractions, multiply the numerators and then multiply the

denominators, then cancel any common factors.

2 4 2⋅4 8 4 3 4 ⋅ 3 12 4
Examples: a) ⋅ = = b) ⋅ = = =
3 5 3 ⋅ 5 15 9 5 9 ⋅ 5 45 15

1
A unit fraction has a numerator of 1. For example, .
5

The multiplicative inverse of an integer is The multiplicative inverse of a fraction is

its reciprocal. the original fraction ‘turned upside down’
1 3 5
For example, the reciprocal of 3 is . The inverse of is .
3 5 3

Multiplying by a unit fraction is the same as dividing by its denominator. For

1
example, multiplying by is the same as dividing by 5.
5
1 10
10 ⋅ = = 2 ⇔ 10 : 5 = 2
5 5

Dividing by a unit fraction is the same as multiplying by its denominator.

1
2: = 8 ⇔ 2⋅4 = 8
4

F. Cano Cuenca 9 Mathematics 1º ESO

To divide by a fraction, multiply by its multiplicative inverse.

1 1 1 6 1⋅6 6
Example: : = ⋅ = = =3
2 6 2 1 2 ⋅1 2

Does it make sense?

1 1
Does : really equal 3?
2 6

You can change a question like ‘What is 20 divided by 5?’ into ‘How many 5s fit
into 20?’

In the same way our fraction question can become:

1 1 1 1
: How many in ?
2 6 6 2

1 1
Now look at the pizzas below… how many slices fit into a slice?
6 2

How many in ? Answer: 3

1 1
So now you cans see that : = 3 really does make sense!
2 6

To divide two fractions, multiply the first by the multiplicative inverse of

the second. This is the same as cross-multiplying their numerators and
denominators.

7 5 7 6 7 ⋅ 6 42 21 1
: = ⋅ = = = =1
8 6 8 5 8 ⋅ 5 40 20 20

You can use the relationship between multiplication and division.

F. Cano Cuenca 10 Mathematics 1º ESO

Exercise 19:

Rewrite each of these divisions as multiplications.

a) 8 : 5 b) 6 : 4 c) 12 : 7 d) 17 : 3 e) 7:2

Exercise 20:

Calculate these, giving your answers in their simplest form.

1 3 7 8 7 4 3 7
a) ⋅ b) 6 ⋅ c) ⋅ d) ⋅ e) ⋅ 12
4 5 4 35 24 5 13 8

Exercise 21:

Copy and complete these sentences.

a) Dividing a number by 4 is the same as multiplying the number by ______.

1
b) Multiplying a number by is the same as dividing the number by ______.
2
1
c) Dividing a number by is the same as multiplying the number by ______.
3

Exercise 22:

Calculate these, giving your answers in their simplest form.

5 7 2 1 3 4 7 3
a) : b) 11 : c) : d) : e) :9
8 9 3 12 8 5 8 16

Exercise 23:

1
One ibuprofen tablet contains of a gram of active
5
ingredient. How many milligrams are there in three
tablets?

Exercise 24:

1
A sheet of paper has dimensions 8 inches by 11 inches. How many square
2
inches is the paper?

Exercise 25:

1
A track is of a mile long. How many times does John have to run around the
3
track if he wants to run 6 miles?

F. Cano Cuenca 11 Mathematics 1º ESO

Exercise 26:

3 1
A paint pot can hold 2 litres of paint. Hector buys 11 litres of emulsion
4 5
paint. Hoy many times can Hector fill the paint pot with emulsion paint?

7.8.- FINDING FRACTIONS OF QUANTITIES

This rectangle has an area of 24 cm2.

1
The unshaded area of the rectangle is of 24 cm2.
6
5
The shaded area of the rectangle is of 24 cm2.
6

To find one sixth of a number we divide the number by six.

1
of 24 cm2 = 24 cm2 : 6 = 4 cm2
6

Then, to find five sixths of a number, we first find one sixth of that number
and then multiply this by five.

1
of 24 cm2 = 24 cm2 : 6 = 4 cm2; 5 · 4 cm2 = 20 cm2
6

Dividing 24 by 6 and multiplying the number you get by 5 is the same as

5
multiplying 24 by .
6

Therefore, you find fractions of a quantity by multiplying.

2 2 2 ⋅ 5 10
For example, of 5 = ⋅ 5 = =
3 3 3 3

You can extend this method to finding a fraction of a fraction of a quantity.

Example:

1 3
Tom has £42. He spends of it on Monday. On Tuesday he spends of the
3 4
remainder. How much does he spend on Tuesday?

1 2
Tom spends ⋅ £42 on Monday, so he has ⋅ £42 on Tuesday.
3 3

F. Cano Cuenca 12 Mathematics 1º ESO

 3 2 3 2
of ⋅ 42 is ⋅ ⋅ 42 = £21
4 3 4 3

Now, we move on the “inverse problem”:

Example: The two thirds of a quantity are 400. What is the quantity?

If the two thirds of a quantity are 400, one third of

this quantity is 400 : 2 = 200 .

1
of a quantity is 200 ⇒ the whole quantity is
3
200 ⋅ 3 = 600

Dividing 400 by 2 and multiplying the number you get by 3 is the same as
3 2
multiplying 400 by (the multiplicative inverse of ).
2 3

More examples:

4 5
of C = 240 ⇒ C = 240 ⋅ = 300
5 4

3 7
of C = 60 ⇒ C = 60 ⋅ = 140
7 3

To sum up:

a a
The fraction of C is equal to ⋅ C
b b

a b
If the fraction of C is equal to P, then C is equal to P ⋅
b a

Exercise 27:

Calculate the amount of liquid in these containers.

3
a) A 40 litre barrel that is full.
8
3
b) A 240 cl jar that is full.
4
2
c) A 120 cl glass that is empty.
5
2
d) A 750 ml litre bottle that is empty.
3

F. Cano Cuenca 13 Mathematics 1º ESO

Exercise 28:

3
of a group of children were girls. If there were 24 girls, how many children
5
were there in the group?

Exercise 29:

5
A store sold of its 48 rose plants at the full price of $24
8
2
and sold the rest for of the full price. How much money
3
did they take in for the rose plants?

Exercise 30:

An empty swimming pool is to be filled with water. It takes 12 hours to fill the
pool, and the full pool contains 98 m3 of water. How much water will the pool
contain after 5 hours? Show your work.

Exercise 31:

Calculate these times using fractions, and then convert each of your answers
into hours and minutes.

7 5 7
a) of 9 hours b) of 22 hours c) of 1 day
12 8 10

Exercise 32:

5
Pete the Painter can paint of a room in 90 minutes. How many minutes will
6
take Pete to paint the entire room?

Exercise 33:

3
A cyclist has covered of the total cycle race. If there
5
are 30 kilometres left to finish the race, how long is the
total race?

Exercise 34:

5
of a group of students are boys. There are 18 more boys than girls. How many
7
students are there altogether?

F. Cano Cuenca 14 Mathematics 1º ESO

Exercise 35:

Karen promised Sara that she would give half of her remaining money to her
7
after giving of it to her favourite charity. If Karen gave $672 to her
8
favourite charity, how much money will Sara receive?

Exercise 36:

Gary works at Ghosts and Goblins, a Halloween store. He puts

orange, black, and purple Halloween candles in boxes. After he
1 1
fills a box, is orange, is black, and 21 are purple. How many
4 6
candles does Gary put in each box?

Exercise 37:

1
Benjamin found a bag of money. He decided to give of the money to his
2
1 1 1
brother, of the money ho his sister, of the money to his mother, and of
4 8 16
the money to his dad. The amount of money that was left was $1.25. How much
money was in the bag when Benjamin found it?

Exercise 38:

2 1
Marcus had $450. He spent of it on a DVD player. He then spent of the
5 3
remaining money on a jacket. How much money did Marcus have left?

Exercise 39:

1
Chef Pillsbury purchased some eggs. He used of them to make some pies. He
2
1
used of the remaining eggs to make a cake. He then had 15 eggs left. How
4
many eggs had Chef Pillsbury purchased?

Exercise 40:

Kara read 20 pages of her new book on Saturday. She

1
read of the remaining pages on Sunday. She still has
4
36 pages to read. How many pages are in Kara’s book?

F. Cano Cuenca 15 Mathematics 1º ESO