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CIE IGCSE Maths: Extended Your notes

Fractions Toolkit
Contents
Fractions
Operations with Fractions

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Fractions
Your notes
Basic Fractions
What is a fraction?
A fraction is part of a whole
a
A fraction is written aswhere a and b are whole numbers (integers)
b
The number on the top, a, is called the numerator
The number on the bottom, b, is called the denominator
a
means split something into b parts and take a of them
b
1
means split something into 2 parts and take 1 of these parts
2
2
means split the something into 3 parts and take 2 of these parts
3
4
means split something into 5 parts and take 4 of these parts
5

How do I find equivalent fractions?

“Splitting something into 2 parts and taking 1 of these parts” gives the same overall amount as “splitting
something into 4 parts and taking 2 of these parts”
1 2
is the same as
2 4
2 4 8 3
Using the same idea, is the same as , or , or etc
4 8 16 6
Equivalent fractions are two fractions that represent the same amount (they are different ways of
writing the same thing)
To make equivalent fractions, multiply the top and bottom of a fraction by the same amount
5 5 × 2 10 5 × 3 15 5 × 4 20
is equivalent to = and = and = …etc
6 6 × 2 12 6 × 3 18 6 × 4 24
For each fraction, there are an infinite number of equivalent fractions
To cancel a fraction down to its “simplest” equivalent form, divide the top and bottom of a fraction by
the biggest whole number that goes into both (“common factor”)
12 12 ÷ 6 2
= =
18 18 ÷ 6 3

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25 25 ÷ 5 5
= =
45 45 ÷ 5 9 Your notes

How do I find a fraction of an amount?

Method 1: divide by the denominator and multiply by the numerator
1
To find of an amount, divide it by 2
2
1
To find of an amount, divide it by 3
3
2
To find of an amount, divide it by 5 then multiply it by 2
5
2
of 60: do 60 ÷ 5 = 12, then 12 × 2 = 24
5
Method 2 (if you know how to change fractions into decimals): change the fraction into a decimal, then
multiply
1
To find of an amount, multiply the amount by 0.25
4
9
To find of an amount, multiply the amount by 0.9
10
Method 3 (if you know how to multiply fractions): write both numbers as fractions and multiply two
fractions together
2 2 60
To find of 60, work out ×
3 3 1
5 8 5 8
To find of , work out ×
6 3 6 3

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Mixed Numbers & Top Heavy Fractions

Your notes
What are mixed numbers & top heavy fractions?
A mixed number has a whole number (integer) part and a fraction part
3 3
eg. 3 has the whole number 3 and the fraction , meaning “three and three quarters”
4 4
A top heavy fraction – also called an improper fraction – is one with the top (numerator) bigger than the
bottom (denominator)
15
eg. means “fifteen quarters”
4

Turning mixed numbers into top heavy fractions

1. Multiply the whole number by the denominator (big × bottom)
2. Add that value to the numerator
3. Write the "new" numerator over the same denominator as before

Turning top heavy fractions into mixed numbers

Divide the top by the bottom (to get a whole number and a remainder)
The whole number is the big number
The fraction part is the remainder over the denominator

Examiner Tip
Top heavy fractions are also called "improper" fractions

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Worked example
Your notes
3
(a) Write 5 as an improper fraction
4
Multiply the whole number by the denominator, and add to the numerator. Keep the denominator the
same.

Simplify

17
(b) Write as a mixed number
5
Divide the top by the bottom
17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2
The final answer is 3, with 2 parts still left over to be divided by 5, which can be written as a mixed
number

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Operations with Fractions

Your notes
Adding & Subtracting Fractions
Dealing with mixed numbers
Always turn mixed numbers into top heavy fractions before adding or subtracting
Adding & subtracting
Adding and subtracting are treated in exactly the same way:
Find the lowest common denominator (the smallest whole number that each denominator
divides)
Write each fraction as an equivalent fraction over this denominator (by multiplying top-and-
bottom by the same amount)
Add (or subtract) the numerators and write this over a single lowest common denominator
do not add the denominators
Check for any cancellation (or if asked to turn top heavy fractions back into mixed numbers)

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Worked example
Your notes
2 1
(a) Find +
3 5
Find the lowest common denominator of 3 and 5

15 is the smallest number that divides both 3 and 5

the lowest common denominator is 15

Write both fractions as equivalent fractions over 15 (by multiplying top and bottom by the same
amount)

Add the numerators and write over a single denominator

There is no cancellation

3 5
(b) Find 3 − giving your answer as a mixed number
4 8
Change the mixed number into a top heavy fraction (by multiplying the denominator, 4, by the whole
number, 3, then adding the numerator, 3)

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Your notes

To find first find the lowest common denominator of 4 and 8

8 is the smallest number that divides both 4 and 8

the lowest common denominator is 8

Write both fractions as equivalent fractions over 8 (by multiplying top and bottom by the same
amount)

Subtract the numerators and write over a single denominator

Change into a mixed number (by dividing 25 by 8 to get 3 remainder 1)

There is no more cancellation

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Your notes

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Multiplying Fractions
Dealing with mixed numbers Your notes
Always turn mixed numbers into top heavy fractions before multiplying
Multiplying fractions
Cancel any numbers on the tops of the fractions with numbers on the bottoms of the fractions (either
fraction)
Multiply the tops
Multiply the bottoms
Cancel again if possible
Turn top heavy fractions back into mixed numbers (if necessary / asked for)

Worked example
4 25
Find ×
15 11

The 15 and 25 can be cancelled before multiplying (to make the next step easier)

Multiply the numerators together and the denominators together

There is no further cancelling that can be done

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Dividing Fractions
Dealing with mixed numbers Your notes
Always turn mixed numbers into top heavy fractions before dividing
Dividing fractions
Never try to divide fractions
Instead “flip’n’times” (flip the second fraction and change ÷ into ×)
a b
So ÷ becomes ×
b a
Then multiply the fractions (multiply tops and multiply bottoms)
Cancel the final answer (if possible)

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Worked example
Your notes
1 3
Divide 3 by , giving your answer as a mixed number
4 8

Rewrite as an improper fraction

Turn the division into a multiplication, using the fact that dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying
by its reciprocal

Multiply the fractions

Simplify the fraction, by dividing the numerator and denominator by 4

Rewrite as a mixed number

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