PROPER AND

IMPROPER FRACTIONS
MATH – WEEK 6
 DEFINITION
• What is a Proper Fraction?
It is a fraction that is less than one (1).
The numerator is less than the denominator.

=
 DEFINITION
• What is an Improper Fraction?
It is a fraction that is more than one (1).
The numerator is more than the denominator.

=
 OTHER TYPE OF FRACTIONS
• There are also Mixed Fractions.
• They have a Whole Number and a Fraction:
PRODUCT OF A PROPER FRACTION
• Method 1:
3 1
In this case we have x . So we
5 2
can draw one rectangle. Divide
it in 5 parts and color 3 (yellow).
Then in 2 parts and color 1
> > (blue). The parts in common
(the green) will be the
Numerator and the total of
parts the Denominator. So we
3
have .
10
• Method 2:
This one for some people might
3 1 3x1 3
be easier. We just multiply the
- x - = - = - numbers that are in front of each
5 2 5x2 10 other and the result should be the
same.
PRODUCT OF AN IMPROPER FRACTION

• Method 1:

> >

6 3
A little bit different. In this case we have x . So we can draw two rectangles. Divide them in 5 parts and color 6
5 4
(yellow). Then in 4 parts and color 3 (blue). The parts in common (the green) will be the Numerator and because we
need to complete one of the rectangles before we can know the value of the denominator, we put the 3 green parts in
the second rectangle on the first one…
…because we could not complete one rectangle then, we just count the total
18
parts in this one to know the value of the Denominator. So we have
20
9
which is the same as .
10
• Method 2:
6 3 6x3 18 9

- x - = - = - = -

5 4 5x4 20 10

We call also multiply the numbers that are in front of each other and then simplify if it is
possible. The result should be the same.
 LET’S PRACTICE
• Try to solve these 4 multiplications.

7 5 1 7
x x
10 10 3 5

1 6 15 4
x x
3 7 6 5