Page 114 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Fractions SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Astronomy p.32
▸ ▸ Clocks p.61
Fractions are parts of whole numbers. They are written as ▸ ▸ Measuring p.159
one number over another number. The number on the top ▸ ▸ Numbers p.185
is usually smaller than the one on the bottom. Fractions ▸ ▸ Shapes p.222

can be used on their own or with whole numbers. ▸ ▸ Symmetry p.248

Common
fractions 1
A whole number can Quarter
be split into any A quarter is 1 part
number of parts to out of 4 equal parts.
make a fraction. 1
Here are some of 4
the fractions we
use most often.

2 1

Half 8
Half of a number is Eighth
when it is split into One-eighth is 1 part
two equal parts. out of 8 equal parts.

Same but different?
Fractions can be written differently
Parts of a fraction Decimals but mean the same. A half is the
same amount as two quarters.
The top number in a fraction is Fractions can also be written as
called the numerator. The bottom decimals. The number to the left of the One half ( ⁄2)
1
number is called the denominator. decimal point is a whole number. The
They are divided by a line. number to the right is the fraction.

3 The numerator This number is
the fraction.
The denominator 0.75

4 The decimal point

divides the whole
number from
2
Three-quarters Decimal the fraction. Two-quarters ( ⁄4)
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