Fractions represent parts of a whole, with the top number called the numerator representing the parts being considered, and the bottom number called the denominator representing the total parts the whole was divided into. A fraction shows the numerator parts over the denominator parts. Fractions can be represented visually using circles divided into equal parts, with shaded portions indicating the numerator parts being referred to out of the total denominator parts.

1. FRACTIONS

2. Fractions are
expressed as one
number over
another number

3. fraction names part of a region or part
of a group. The top number of a fraction
is called its numerator and the bottom
part is its denominator.
So a fraction is the number of shaded parts
divided by the number of equal parts as shown
below:
number of shaded parts numerator
number of equal parts denominator

4. The number on the top is
called the numerator and the
number on the bottom is
called the denominator.

5. EXAMPLE:
When you think of a fraction, think of a
PIZZA!!
Suppose a pizza is cut evenly into the
number of pieces in the DENOMINATOR.
If the number of pieces YOU get is the
NUMERATOR, the fraction of the pizza
you get is:

6. The circle to the left can be used to represent
one whole

7. •
• This circle has been divided into 2 equal parts.
•
• This circle has been divided into 3 equal parts.
•
• This circle has been divided into 4 equal parts.
• We can shade a portion of a circle to name a specific
part of the whole as shown below.
•
•

9. t
take 1 of the 8
slices

11. We write it like that because the pizza has 8 slices