Fractions
A fraction shows parts of a whole as numerator over denominator.
About this topic
A fraction describes part of a whole or a share of a group. The denominator says how many equal pieces the whole is cut into, and the numerator says how many of those pieces you have. So 3/4 means three of four equal parts.
A fraction is also a division: 3/4 is 3 ÷ 4. Fractions can be proper (less than one), improper (one or more), or mixed numbers. They live on the number line between the integers and are the gateway to ratios, proportions, decimals and percentages. Equal parts matter: a pizza cut into unequal slices does not give a true fraction.
Picture a chocolate bar with 8 squares. If you eat 3, you have eaten 3/8 and 5/8 remains. To compare 2/3 and 3/5, think of them as 10/15 and 9/15, so 2/3 is larger. A number line from 0 to 1 divided into equal steps is an excellent way to see which fraction is bigger. Fractions can also describe a share of a group, such as 2/5 of a class of 30, which is 12 students.
Fractions show up in cooking, music (note lengths), measurements, probability and discounts. A common mistake is thinking a bigger denominator means a bigger fraction, but 1/8 is smaller than 1/4 because the pieces are smaller. Another is forgetting that the denominator can never be zero, since you cannot cut something into zero pieces.
Key ideas
- The denominator counts equal parts in the whole
- The numerator counts parts taken
- Fractions are also division
Quick check
Use cases: where Fractions helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Fractions before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Fractions without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Fractions changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Fractions in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Number and algebra skills are used in science, engineering, budgeting and computing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Fractions?
A fraction shows parts of a whole as numerator over denominator.
What will I learn in Fractions?
The denominator counts equal parts in the whole. The numerator counts parts taken. Fractions are also division.
Is Fractions part of Mathematics?
Yes. It is one of 200 Mathematics topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Fractions lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Fractions?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.