A fraction represents a part of a whole. It shows how many equal parts we have out of the total number of parts. For example, if we divide a circle into 4 equal parts and take 3 of them, we have three-fourths or 3/4 of the circle.
A fraction has three main parts. The numerator is the top number that shows how many parts we have. The denominator is the bottom number that shows how many equal parts the whole is divided into. The fraction bar between them means division.
There are different types of fractions. A proper fraction has a numerator smaller than the denominator, so its value is less than one. An improper fraction has a numerator equal to or greater than the denominator, so its value is one or greater. Improper fractions can be written as mixed numbers.
Equivalent fractions represent the same value but look different. For example, one-half equals two-fourths, which equals three-sixths. To create equivalent fractions, multiply or divide both the numerator and denominator by the same number. The visual shows that half of a rectangle is the same as two out of four parts.
Fractions are everywhere in real life! We use them in cooking when we measure ingredients like half a cup of flour. We use them with time, like a quarter of an hour which is 15 minutes. In sports, we might say three-quarters of the game is over. When eating pizza, we count slices as fractions. Fractions help us describe parts of things precisely and accurately.