Converting Improper Fractions Into Mixed Numbers

Sometimes we get fractions where the numerator is bigger than the denominator. When this occurs we call the fraction an improper fraction. 9 4 numerator Denominator

We call it an improper fraction because that’s not how people typically talk. Dude, I ate 5 halves of candy bars yesterday Hey, I’ve collected 15 quarters 9 4

We call it an improper fraction because that’s not how people typically talk. We tend to talk using a mix of whole numbers and fractions when possible. Dude, I ate two and a half of candy bars yesterday Hey, I’ve collected 3 dollars and 75 cents 9 4

9 4 So, how do we convert an improper fraction to a mixed number? Before we start we need to remember how we get improper fractions in the first place. 9 4

When we add fractions we have to remember that the denominator stays the same and we simply add the numerators together 1+2 5 1 5 2 5 3 5 + = =

If the numerators are big it can result is an improper fraction. 4+3 5 4 5 3 5 7 5 + = =

So to convert an improper fraction to a mixed number we need to work backwards and figure out the addition problem that created the situation. ?+? 7 ? 7 ? 7 9 + = = 7

While there are lots of different combinations that would give us the numerator we want, we should choose the one that results in a whole number. 5+4 7 5 7 4 7 9 + = = 7

While there are lots of different combinations that would give us the numerator we want, we should choose the one that results in a whole number. 6+3 7 6 7 3 7 9 + = = 7

While there are lots of different combinations that would give us the numerator we want, we should choose the one that results in a whole number. 7+2 7 7 2 7 9 + = = 7

We want to choose this combination because we can convert this to a whole number. 7+2 7 7 2 7 9 + = = 7

We want to choose this combination because we can convert this to a whole number. 7+2 7 7 2 7 9 1 + = = 7

We have now successfully converted an improper fraction into a mixed number. 2 7 9 7 1 =

Some times the numerator is large enough to pull more than one whole from the numerator. ? 4 ? 4 ? 4 9 + + = 4

Some times the numerator is large enough to pull more than one whole from the numerator. 4 4 1 4 9 + + = 4

In this case we create as many whole numbers as possible. 4 4 1 4 9 1 1 + + = 4

We finish things off by combining the whole numbers. 1 4 9 2 = 4