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Proper and improper fractions

The fraction a b is a proper fraction if a < b and an improper fraction if a b .

Doing the Manipulative Mathematics activity "Model Improper Fractions" and "Mixed Numbers" will help you develop a better understanding of how to convert between improper fractions and mixed numbers.

Name the improper fraction modeled. Then write the improper fraction as a mixed number.

Two circles are shown, both divided into three equal pieces. The circle on the left has all three pieces shaded. The circle on the right has one piece shaded.

Solution

Each circle is divided into three pieces, so each piece is 1 3 of the circle. There are four pieces shaded, so there are four thirds or 4 3 . The figure shows that we also have one whole circle and one third, which is 1 1 3 . So, 4 3 = 1 1 3 .

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Name the improper fraction. Then write it as a mixed number    .

Two circles are shown, both divided into three equal pieces. The circle on the left has all three pieces shaded. The circle on the right has two pieces shaded.

5 3 = 1 2 3

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Name the improper fraction. Then write it as a mixed number.

Two circles are shown, both divided into eight equal pieces. The circle on the left has all eight pieces shaded. The circle on the right has five pieces shaded.

13 8 = 1 5 8

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Draw a figure to model 11 8 .

Solution

The denominator of the improper fraction is 8 . Draw a circle divided into eight pieces and shade all of them. This takes care of eight eighths, but we have 11 eighths. We must shade three of the eight parts of another circle.

Two circles are shown, both divided into eight equal pieces. The circle on the left has all eight pieces shaded and is labeled as eight eighths. The circle on the right has three pieces shaded and is labeled as three eighths. The diagram indicates that eight eighths plus three eighths is one plus three eighths.

So, 11 8 = 1 3 8 .

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Draw a figure to model 7 6 .


Two circles are shown. Each is divided into six sections. All of the first circle is shaded and one section of the second circle is shaded.

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Draw a figure to model 6 5 .


Two circles are shown. Each is divided into five sections. All of the first circle is shaded and one section of the second circle is shaded.

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Use a model to rewrite the improper fraction 11 6 as a mixed number.

Solution

We start with 11 sixths ( 11 6 ) . We know that six sixths makes one whole.

6 6 = 1

That leaves us with five more sixths, which is 5 6 ( 11 sixths minus 6 sixths is 5 sixths ) .

So, 11 6 = 1 5 6 .

Two circles are shown, both divided into six equal pieces. The circle on the left has all six pieces shaded and is labeled as six sixths. The circle on the right has five pieces shaded and is labeled as five sixths. Below the circles, it says one plus five sixths, then six sixths plus five sixths equals eleven sixths, and one plus five sixths equals one and five sixths. It then says that eleven sixths equals one and five sixths.
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Use a model to rewrite the improper fraction as a mixed number: 9 7 .

1 2 7

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Use a model to rewrite the improper fraction as a mixed number: 7 4 .

1 3 4

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Use a model to rewrite the mixed number 1 4 5 as an improper fraction.

Solution

The mixed number 1 4 5 means one whole plus four fifths. The denominator is 5 , so the whole is 5 5 . Together five fifths and four fifths equals nine fifths.

So, 1 4 5 = 9 5 .

Two circles are shown, both divided into five equal pieces. The circle on the left has all five pieces shaded and is labeled as 5 fifths. The circle on the right has four pieces shaded and is labeled as 4 fifths. It then says that 5 fifths plus 4 fifths equals 9 fifths and that 9 fifths is equal to one plus 4 fifths.
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Use a model to rewrite the mixed number as an improper fraction: 1 3 8 .

11 8

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Use a model to rewrite the mixed number as an improper fraction: 1 5 6 .

11 6

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Convert between improper fractions and mixed numbers

In [link] , we converted the improper fraction 11 6 to the mixed number 1 5 6 using fraction circles. We did this by grouping six sixths together to make a whole; then we looked to see how many of the 11 pieces were left. We saw that 11 6 made one whole group of six sixths plus five more sixths, showing that 11 6 = 1 5 6 .

The division expression 11 6 (which can also be written as 6 11 ) tells us to find how many groups of 6 are in 11 . To convert an improper fraction to a mixed number    without fraction circles, we divide.

Convert 11 6 to a mixed number.

Solution

11 6
Divide the denominator into the numerator. Remember 11 6 means 11 ÷ 6 .
.
Identify the quotient, remainder and divisor.
Write the mixed number as remainder divisor . 1 1 6
So, 11 6 = 1 1 6
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Convert the improper fraction to a mixed number: 13 7 .

1 6 7 .

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Convert the improper fraction to a mixed number: 14 9 .

1 5 9

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Convert an improper fraction to a mixed number.

  1. Divide the denominator into the numerator.
  2. Identify the quotient, remainder, and divisor.
  3. Write the mixed number as quotient remainder divisor .

Convert the improper fraction 33 8 to a mixed number.

Solution

33 8
Divide the denominator into the numerator. Remember, 33 8 means 8 33 .
Identify the quotient, remainder, and divisor. .
Write the mixed number as quotient remainder divisor . 4 1 8
So, 33 8 = 4 1 8
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Practice Key Terms 4

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Source:  OpenStax, Prealgebra. OpenStax CNX. Jul 15, 2016 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11756/1.9
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