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We can divide any convenient figure into equal parts (not just a rectangle), to represent a fraction. For
example, the circle below has been divided into 5 equal “wedges,” and three of them are shaded. So
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the picture represents the fraction .
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Example 76. Use a square to represent the fraction 5/16.
Solution. Since 16 is a perfect square, it’s easy to make a square 4 units on a side, and divide that into
16 small squares of equal size. Then we shade 5 of them (any 5 will do) to represent 5/16.
3.2 Proper and Improper Fractions
A fraction is called proper if its numerator has smaller absolute value than its denominator. A positive
proper fraction represents less than one whole.An improper fraction has a numerator that has
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