Fractions Toolkit

Numerator and denominator

• A fraction expresses one integer divided by another and is written with one number above the other
• The lower number, the denominator, states how many equal parts one whole has been split into
• The upper number, the numerator, states how many of those parts are being counted
  • In 3/5, each whole is cut into five parts and three of them are taken
• A proper fraction has a numerator smaller than its denominator, so its value is below 1
• An improper fraction, also called a top-heavy fraction, has a numerator at least as large as its denominator, so its value is 1 or more