Welcome to learning about fractions! A fraction represents a part of a whole. When we divide something into equal parts, a fraction tells us how many of those parts we have. For example, if we divide a circle into two equal parts and shade one part, we have one half, written as one over two.
Every fraction has two important parts. The top number is called the numerator, and it tells us how many parts we have. The bottom number is called the denominator, and it tells us how many equal parts the whole thing is divided into. In the fraction three fourths, the numerator 3 means we have three parts, and the denominator 4 means the whole is divided into four equal parts.
Equivalent fractions are different fractions that represent the same amount. For example, one half, two fourths, and four eighths all represent the same portion. We can see this visually - each circle shows the same amount shaded, even though they are divided into different numbers of parts. To create equivalent fractions, we multiply or divide both the top and bottom numbers by the same amount.
Adding fractions depends on whether they have the same denominator or not. When fractions have the same denominator, like one fourth plus two fourths, we simply add the numerators and keep the denominator the same, giving us three fourths. When denominators are different, like one half plus one fourth, we first convert to equivalent fractions with the same denominator. One half equals two fourths, so we can add two fourths plus one fourth to get three fourths.
Fractions are everywhere in our daily lives! When we eat pizza, we might eat three eighths of the whole pizza. When we tell time, we say half past two or quarter to three. In cooking, we measure three fourths of a cup of flour. At the store, we might buy one half pound of cheese. Learning fractions helps us understand and solve many real-world problems we encounter every day.