Fractions play a crucial role in mathematics, and it is vital for students in the primary section to establish a solid understanding of different types of fractions. Before exploring types of fractions, kids should have good knowledge about fractions.
Fractions come into play when we encounter situations where the quantity being measured is not always a whole number. In real-life scenarios, it is common to encounter situations where we need to work with parts or portions of a whole. This is when the concept of fractions becomes essential.
A fraction represents a part of a whole, and the concept can be reinforced in a practical context by citing everyday examples, like sharing a pizza or dividing a cake. Fractions consist of two parts: the numerator (top number), representing the parts we have, and the denominator (bottom number), representing the total number of equal parts.
Types Of Fractions :
The different types of fractions are classified mostly on the basis of their numerator and denominator. Fractions are classified into the following types :
1. Unit Fractions : Fractions are termed unit fractions, if numerator is 1.
2. Proper Fractions :
Fractions are termed proper fractions, if the numerator is smaller than the denominator. A proper fraction is always less than 1.
Use visual aids and examples to help kids understand the concept of proper fractions. For example, show fraction bars where the shaded portion is less than the whole bar.
3. Improper Fraction :
Fractions are termed improper fractions if the numerator is equal to or greater than the denominator. An improper fraction is always greater than 1.
Improper fractions represent a whole number and a part of another whole.
Use visual aids and real-life examples, such as dividing a cake into equal parts and taking more than one whole cake, to help kids understand improper fractions.
4. Mixed Fraction :
Fractions are termed mixed fractions, when they exist in the combination of a whole number and a proper fraction. A mixed fraction is always greater than 1.
Use visual representations, such as fraction circles or fraction bars, to demonstrate mixed numbers. Provide practical examples, like measuring lengths in feet and inches, to help students connect mixed numbers to real-world situations.
Group Of Fractions
The comparison of fractions is done for the fractions in the group. Groups of fractions can also be classified into the following types :
1. Like Fractions :
Fractions in a group of fractions are termed like fractions, if they have the same denominator. Operations like additions or subtractions are performed on like fractions only. Unlike fractions are required to be converted to like fractions when performing additions or subtractions.
2. Unlike Fractions :
Fractions in a group of fractions are termed unlike fractions, if they do not have the same denominator. Unlike fractions are required to be converted to like fractions when performing additions or subtractions.
3. Equivalent Fractions :
Fractions in a group of fractions are termed equivalent fractions, if they have a different denominator and numerator but give the same value when reduced into simplified form.
Fractions can be converted to equivalent fractions by multiplying or dividing both the numerator and the denominator by the same number.
Conversion Of Improper Fractions To Mixed Fractions :
Improper fraction can be converted into mixed fraction by following steps :
Step 1 : Divide the numerator by the denominator.
Step 2 : After dividing, you get a whole number and a remainder. The whole number tells you how many times the denominator fits into the numerator, and the remainder is what’s left over. It’s like when you have a big bag of candies and you want to share them equally. The whole number is the number of friends who get a full bag, and the remainder is the candies left over.
Step 3 : Now, let’s write it in a special way called a mixed number. The whole number goes first, then we write the remainder as the new numerator, and the denominator stays the same.
Conversion Of Mixed Fractions To Improper Fractions :
A mixed fraction is a special kind of fraction that has a whole number and a little part. To convert it to an improper fraction, we follow these steps:
Step 1 : First, we take the whole number part and multiply it by the denominator. It’s like counting how many scoops of ice cream we have from the same flavor!
Step 2 : Next, we add the numerator, which is the top number, to the product we just found. It’s like adding extra sprinkles to our yummy ice cream scoop!
Step 3 : The result we get is our new numerator, and the denominator stays the same. It’s like making a bigger scoop of ice cream with all the flavors mixed together!
Regular practise and reinforcement will help kids develop a strong foundation in fractions and lay the groundwork for more advanced concepts in the future.
Teaching type of fractions with kid-friendly, clear, and easy-to-understand posters from Uncle Math School by Fun2Do Labs :
Ignite kids’ curiosity with engaging stories for role play and skits, making the learning of this concept an exciting and effective experience. Teaching type of fractions through stories from Uncle Math School by Fun2Do Labs :
Learning type of fractions can be made enjoyable by incorporating interactive games and activities.
Play Card Fraction Activity :
This is a fun-filled activity for kids using play cards. This can prove useful for teaching different types of fractions. This activity can be performed in the following steps :
- Distribute a set of cards to kids and tell them to arrange them as in the picture below.
- The card on the top will act as the numerator, and the card at the bottom will act as the denominator.
- Just by observing numerators and denominators, kids can derive different types of fractions.
Help your kids practise type of fractions with interesting and engaging fun worksheets and solutions from Uncle Math by Fun2Do Labs.
