Grade 7: Fractions

1. Introduction to Fractions

A fraction represents a part of a whole. It consists of two parts:

• Numerator: The top number, representing the parts we have.

• Denominator: The bottom number, representing the total number of equal parts.
3
Example: 4 means 3 parts out of 4 equal parts.

Types of Fractions:
3
• Proper Fractions: Numerator is smaller than the denominator (e.g., 5 - 3 parts of 5).
7
• Improper Fractions: Numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator (e.g., 4 - 7 parts
of 4).
1
• Mixed Numbers: Combination of a whole number and a proper fraction (e.g., 2 3 - 2 wholes
and 1 part of 3).

Key Concept:
3
• Fractions show division: is the same as 3 divided by 4.
4

Examples:
5
1. – Proper fraction
8
9
2. – Improper fraction
7
2
3. 3 5 – Mixed number

2. Conversion Between Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

To Convert a Mixed Number to an Improper Fraction:

1. Multiply the whole number by the denominator.

2. Add the numerator to this product.

3. Keep the denominator the same.

Example:
2 (3×5)+2 (15+2) 17
1. 3 5 = 5
= 5
= 5

𝟑
2. 𝟒 𝟖
 𝟏
3. 𝟔 𝟒
𝟓
4. 𝟐 𝟔
𝟕
5. 𝟓 𝟗

To Convert an Improper Fraction to a Mixed Number:

1. Divide the numerator by the denominator.

2. The quotient is the whole number, and the remainder becomes the numerator of the
fraction.

Example:
17 2
1. 5
= (17 ÷ 5) = 3 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 2 = 3 5
𝟐𝟗
2. 𝟔

𝟒𝟑
3. 𝟖

𝟓𝟎
4. 𝟕

𝟔𝟖
5. 𝟗

3. Representing Fractions on a Number Line Involving Integers

To represent a fraction on a number line:

1. Identify the whole numbers the fraction lies between.

2. Divide the section between the whole numbers into equal parts (based on the
denominator).

3. Count the parts starting from the left to locate the fraction.
3
Example: To represent 4 on a number line:
3
• Locate 0 and 1 (since 4 is between them).

• Divide the segment into 4 equal parts.

• Count 3 parts to the right of 0.

• do it using a number line on your copybook

Examples:

Show these fractions on number line:

 1
1.
2
5
2.
3

3
3. 1
4

4. Equivalent Fractions and Reduction of Fractions

Equivalent Fractions are different-looking fractions that represent the same value.

To find equivalent fractions:

• Multiply or divide both the numerator and denominator by the same number.
1 2 3
Example: 2 = 4 = 6

Reducing Fractions: Simplify a fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by their
Greatest Common Factor (GCF).
8 8÷4 2
Example: 12 → 12÷4 = 3

Examples:

Reduce the following fractions to their simplest terms

4
1. 8

15
2. 20

18
3. 24
25
4. 35

40
5. 50

5. Ordering of Fractions

To compare and order fractions:

1. Find a common denominator (the smallest number both denominators can divide into).

2. Rewrite each fraction using this common denominator.

3. Compare the numerators.

2 1 5
Example: Order , , :
3 4 6

• Common denominator of 3, 4, and 6 is 12.

 2 8 1 3 5 10
•
3
= 12 , 4 = 12 , 6 = 12.
1 2 5
• Order: 4 , 3 , 6

Examples:

Write in ascending order:

2 3 4
1. ,
5 10 5
,
7 5 3
2. 12 6 4
, ,
1 1 3
3. , ,
8 4 8

6. Addition/Subtraction of Fractions

1. Convert any mixed number to improper fractions.

2. Make the denominators the same (find the Least Common Denominator, LCD).

3. Adjust the numerators accordingly.

4. Add or subtract the numerators.

5. Simplify if possible.
2 3
Example: 5 + 10

• LCD of 5 and 10 is 10.

2 4
• = 10
5

4 3 7
• + =
10 10 10

Examples:

Work out:
1 3
1. 4
+
8
5 1
2. 6
−3
1 5
3. 7 2 + 8
9 3
4. 10
−5
2 5
5. 1 3 + 4 4
7.Multiplication of Fractions

Convert any mixed number to improper fractions.

Multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.

Simplify the fraction where necessary.

2 4 8
Example: 3 × 5 = 15

Examples:

Work out
3 2
1. 7
×5
6 5
2. 11
×9
1 3
3. 8 5 × 4
9 2
4. 10
×1
3

8. Division of Fractions

Multiply by the reciprocal of the second fraction (flip the second fraction).

Steps to Divide Fractions:

1. Keep the first fraction the same.

2. Flip (find the reciprocal of) the second fraction.

3. Multiply the fractions.

4. Simplify if necessary.

Examples
2 4 2 5 10 5
1. 3
÷ 5 = 3 × 4 = 12 = 6

7 3
2. 8
÷4

4 2
3. 1 5 ÷ 1 3

3 6
4. 1 ÷
5 7