4 Fractions

This chapter at a glance

Stage 2/3
After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

state the fraction of a figure that has been shaded

identify the numerator and denominator in a fraction

express a fraction as a division and vice-versa

identify proper fractions, improper fractions and mixed numerals

write down a fraction or mixed numeral that has been placed on a number line

add and subtract fractions that have a common denominator.

Stage 4
After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

write a fraction that is equivalent to a given fraction

convert between improper fractions and mixed numerals
Fractions

express a fraction in simplest form

express one quantity as a fraction of another

subtract a fraction or mixed numeral from a whole number

add and subtract fractions that have different denominators

add and subtract mixed numerals

multiply fractions and mixed numerals

state the reciprocal of a fraction

divide fractions and mixed numerals

arrange a group of fractions in ascending order by inspection

arrange a group of fractions in ascending order by expressing them with a
common denominator

find a fraction of a quantity

use the unitary method to find the whole quantity given a fraction of its value

solve problems that involve fractions.

112
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 113

4.1 The definition of a fraction

The word fraction comes from the Latin word frangere, meaning ‘to break’. Fractions result
when integers (i.e. whole numbers) are ‘broken up’ or divided into any number of equal parts.
That is, a fraction is another way of representing a division. Consider the question:
‘If a chocolate bar is to be divided equally among five people, what fraction of the chocolate
bar would each person receive?’
This can be represented by the division 1 ÷ 5 and graphically by the
1– 1– 1– 1– 1–
diagram. Each person will receive ‘one part out of five’ or ‘one-fifth’ 5 5 5 5 5
of the chocolate bar.
1 whole
When writing a fraction, the number above the dividing line is called
the numerator and the number below the line is called the denominator. So, in the fraction 1--5- ,
1 is the numerator and 5 is the denominator. The numerator in a fraction can be any whole
number, but the denominator cannot be zero. Why? The dividing line in a fraction is called the
fraction line or vinculum.
In some fractions we may think of the denominator as representing the total
number of objects in a set and the numerator as representing a subset or
selection of these objects. For example, this figure has been divided into
9 equal parts. Of these, 5 parts have been shaded. We say that ‘five-ninths’
( 5--9- ) of the figure has been shaded.
If in a fraction, the numerator is equal to the denominator, then the fraction has a value of
1 whole. For example, 3--3- = 1, 8--8- = 1.

In any fraction:

the number above the fraction line is called the numerator

the number below the fraction line is called the denominator.

Example 1 Solutions
EG What fraction of the We first divide the figure into
+S square is: 8 equal parts.
a shaded? a 5---- of the square is shaded.
b unshaded? 8
b 3---- of the square is unshaded.
8

Example 2 Solution
EG 3 If 3 out of every 10 people in a room are male, then
+S If ------ of the people in a room are (10 − 3) or 7 out of every 10 people are female.
10
male, what fraction of the people are 7
∴ ------ of the people are female.
female? 10
114 Mathscape 7

Example 3 Solutions
EG a Evaluate 2 ÷ 7. 2
+S a 2 ÷ 7 = ---
18 7
b Evaluate ------ by at first
3 18
b ------ = 18 ÷ 3
expressing it as a division. 3
=6

Exercise 4.1

1 What fraction has been shaded in each figure?

a b c

d e f

2 Shade the given fraction in each of these.

a b c
1 3 5
--- --- ---
3 4 6

d e f
5 4 7
------ --- ------
12 9 10

3 What fraction has been shaded in each of these?

a b c
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 115

4 What fraction of each group of objects

i has been selected? ii has not been selected?
a b c

5 For each of these fractions, state the numerator and denominator.

3 4 12
a --- b --- c ------
5 9 11

■ Consolidation
6 Write down the fraction which has a:
a numerator of 6 and denominator of 7 b denominator of 13 and numerator of 2

7 Write each of these fractions in words.

1 2 8 3 5 11
a --- b --- c --- d --- e ------ f ------
4 3 9 7 12 15

8 Write each of these as a fraction.

a one-half b three-quarters c seven-tenths
d five-eighths e four-fifths f two-ninths

9 Complete each of the following statements.

3 6
a --- = b ----- = 1 c ----- = 1
3 4
9 7
d ----- = 1 e --- = f ----- = 1
5 9

10 a Con has completed 2--5- of a race. What fraction of the race does he still have to run?
b Lisa has read 3--4- of a book. What fraction of the book does she still have to read?
c Tim has lost 5--8- of his football swap cards. What fraction of his cards are left?
3
d Leah gave away ----- 10
- of her toys. What fraction of her toys did she keep?
7
e Toni ate -----
15
- of her lollies. What fraction of her lollies are left?

11 A bag contains 6 red, 3 green and 2 yellow discs. What fraction of the discs are:
a red? b green? c yellow?

12 A fruit bowl contains 7 oranges, 4 pears and 8 apples. What fraction of the fruit pieces are:
a pears? b apples? c oranges?
d not apples? e not oranges? f not pears?
116 Mathscape 7

13 In a box of 19 second-hand books there are 7 street directories, 4 cookbooks and the rest
are atlases. What fraction of the books are:
a atlases? b not atlases? c not street directories?

14 Express each of these fractions as a division.

1 1 3 2 5 3
a --- b --- c --- d --- e --- f ------
3 5 4 7 8 14

15 Write each of these divisions as a fraction.

a 1÷2 b 2÷3 c 7÷9
d 5÷8 e 6 ÷ 13 f 3 ÷ 10

16 Evaluate each fraction by treating it as a division.

8 6 12 10 15 24
a --- b --- c ------ d ------ e ------ f ------
4 2 3 5 3 4
12 16 21 30 14 36
g ------ h ------ i ------ j ------ k ------ l ------
4 2 3 5 2 4

17 Express each of these as a division, then evaluate.

1 1 1 1 1 1
a --- of 6 b --- of 10 c --- of 22 d --- of 6 e --- of 9 f --- of 15
2 2 2 3 3 3
1 1 1 1 1 1
g --- of 4 h --- of 8 i --- of 24 j --- of 20 k --- of 18 l --- of 56
4 4 4 5 6 8

18 How many:
a halves are there in 2 wholes? b thirds are there in 2 wholes?
c sixths are there in 3 wholes? d quarters are there in 3 wholes?
e fifths are there in 2 wholes? f eighths are there in 4 wholes?

■ Further applications
19 Toby cut his apple into quarters and then cut each quarter into three equal pieces. If Toby
eats seven of the small pieces, what fraction of the apple will remain?
20 Doug bought a pizza and ate half of it. His sister Maree ate two-thirds of the remainder.
What fraction of the pizza is left?

21 Pei folded a piece of paper in half four times, then opened it out and ruled a line along each
fold line. Into what fractions has the paper been divided?
22 a Gary and Debbie each spent half of their pocket money. Did they necessarily spend
equal amounts? Explain.
b Linh cut an apple into two pieces and gave one piece to her brother. Did they
necessarily receive equal amounts? Explain.
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 117

4.2 Proper fractions, improper

fractions and mixed numerals
If in a fraction, the numerator is less than the denominator, then the fraction is called a proper
fraction. It is also referred to as a vulgar or common fraction. Some examples of proper
fractions are 1--2- , 3--7- , -----
9 25
- , ------ .
10 32
If in a fraction, the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator then the fraction is
called an improper fraction. Some examples of improper fractions are --88- , --54- , -----
11 23
- , ------ .
7 6
If in a fraction:

the numerator is less than the denominator then the fraction has a value which is less than 1

the numerator is equal to the denominator then the fraction has a value which is equal to 1

the numerator is greater than the denominator then the fraction has a value which is greater
than 1.
A mixed numeral is a number which is made up of a whole number and a proper fraction. Some
examples of mixed numerals are 1 1--2- , 2 5--9- , 6 -----
10
7- 4-
, 13 -----
11
.

To convert a mixed numeral to an improper fraction:

multiply the denominator by the whole number then add the numerator.

keep the same denominator.

To convert an improper fraction to a mixed numeral:

divide the numerator by the denominator

write the remainder over the same denominator.

Example 1 Solution
EG 4 4 (7 × 3) + 4
+S Express 3 --- as an improper fraction. 3 --- = --------------------------
7 7 7
25
= ------
7

Example 2 Solution
EG 22 22
+S Express ------ as a mixed numeral. ------ = 22 ÷ 5
5 5
= 4 remainder 2
2
= 4 ---
5
118 Mathscape 7

Exercise 4.2

1 State whether each of these is a proper fraction (PF), an improper fraction (IF) or a mixed
numeral (MN).
1 5 2 7
a --- b --- c 1 --- d ------
3 4 5 10
6 8 8 1
e 1 --- f --- g 2 --- h ---
7 3 9 6
11 15 21 3
i ------ j ------ k ------ l 3 ---
12 11 8 4
17 9 23 9
m ------ n 5 ------ o ------ p ------
19 13 20 16

2 Use the number line provided to convert each of the mixed numerals below to an improper
fraction.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

0 1 2 1 11 12 2 21 22 3 31 32 4 41 42 5
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
1 2 2 1
a 1 --- b 2 --- c 3 --- d 4 ---
3 3 3 3
2 1 1 2
e 1 --- f 2 --- g 3 --- h 4 ---
3 3 3 3

3 Write down the mixed numeral and improper fraction suggested by each diagram.
a b

c d

e f
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 119

4 Study this example: Use this method to express each of these

3 3 mixed numerals as an improper fraction.
2 --- = 2 + ---
4 4 1 3 1
a 1 --- b 1 --- c 1 ---
3 2 5 3
= 1 + 1 + ---
4 5 1 2
d 2 --- e 2 --- f 3 ---
4 4 3 6 8 7
= --- + --- + ---
4 4 4 7 3 11
g 3 --- h 5 ------ i 4 ------
11 9 10 12
= ------
4

5 Study this example: Use this method to express each of these

18 7 7 4 improper fractions as a mixed numeral.
------ = --- + --- + ---
7 7 7 7 4 5 11
a --- b --- c ------
4 3 2 6
= 1 + 1 + ---
7 9 16 19
d --- e ------ f ------
4 4 7 5
= 2 ---
7 29 35 75
g ------ h ------ i ------
12 9 8

■ Consolidation
6 Multiply the whole number by the denominator and add the numerator. This will convert
each of these mixed numerals to an improper fraction.
1 3 4 5 7
a 1 --- b 1 --- c 2 --- d 3 --- e 2 ------
5 4 5 7 12
3 6 2 3 9
f 5 --- g 4 ------ h 5 --- i 4 --- j 2 ------
8 11 3 4 10
1 2 1 4 5
k 6 --- l 2 --- m 7 --- n 9 --- o 8 ---
2 7 4 5 6
2 7 3 6 3
p 10 --- q 3 ------ r 11 --- s 5 --- t 12 ---
9 11 5 7 8

7 Divide the numerator by the denominator. Hence, convert each of these improper fractions
to a mixed numeral.
5 8 11 17 13
a --- b --- c ------ d ------ e ------
4 3 5 4 8
23 37 23 22 25
f ------ g ------ h ------ i ------ j ------
9 10 7 5 12
38 34 45 23 35
k ------ l ------ m ------ n ------ o ------
7 5 4 3 11
29 53 39 69 43
p ------ q ------ r ------ s ------ t ------
12 6 8 10 13
 120 Mathscape 7

LA
TOR 8 Use the fraction key a b/c on your calculator to change each mixed numeral to an improper
CA U

fraction.
LC

3 1 9 5 5
a 1 --- b 2 --- c 3 ------ d 4 --- e 7 ---
5 2 10 9 6
TOR
LA
9 Use the fraction key a b/c on your calculator to change each improper fraction to a mixed
CA U
LC

numeral.
7 11 23 48 61
a --- b ------ c ------ d ------ e ------
5 3 4 7 9

■ Further applications
10 Complete the fraction -----
5
so that it is greater than 1 2--5- but less than 3 4--5- .

11 What values can be placed in the box so that the fraction -----
3
is not less than 2 2--3- and not
greater than 5 1--3- ?

4.3 Equivalent fractions

If two or more fractions have the same value, then they are called equivalent
fractions. For example, the shaded area in this circle could be interpreted as
either --12- or 3--6- . Therefore, --12- and --36- are equivalent fractions.

To find a fraction which is equivalent to a given fraction:

multiply the numerator and denominator by the same number.

Example
EG Complete each of these equivalent fractions.
+S
1 2 3
a --- = ------ b --- = ------ c 2 --- = ------
4 12 3 15 5 10

Solutions
1×3 3 2 × 5 10 3 13 × 2
a --- = ------ b --- = ------ c 2 --- = ------
4 × 3 12 3 × 5 15 5 5 ×2
26
= ------
10
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 121

Exercise 4.3

1 Use the diagrams provided to complete the equivalent fractions in each of these.
a b c

1 1 1
--- = ----- --- = ----- --- = ------
2 4 3 6 4 12
d e f

3 2 2
--- = ----- --- = ------ --- = ------
4 8 5 10 3 12
g h i

1 3 2
--- = ----- --- = ------ --- = -----
2 8 4 12 3 6
j k l

4 7 5
--- = ------ --- = ------ --- = ------
5 15 8 16 6 24
122 Mathscape 7

2 Complete each of these equivalent fractions.

1 1 1 1 1
a --- = ----- b --- = ----- c --- = ------ d --- = ------ e --- = ------
2 4 3 6 4 12 6 30 5 20
1 1 1 1 1
f --- = ------ g --- = ------ h --- = ------ i --- = ------ j --- = ------
7 14 8 24 3 12 6 42 9 36
1 1 1 1 1
k ------ = ------ l --- = ------ m --- = ------ n --- = ------ o ------ = ------
11 55 3 27 2 24 5 35 10 60
1 1 1 1 1
p --- = ------ q --- = ------ r --- = ------ s ------ = ------ t ------ = ---------
4 20 7 56 8 40 12 96 11 132

■ Consolidation
3 Complete each of these equivalent fractions.
2 3 2 3 2
a --- = ----- b --- = ------ c --- = ------ d --- = ------ e ------ = ------
3 9 4 12 5 20 7 14 11 77
5 9 7 6 7
f --- = ------ g ------ = ------ h --- = ------ i --- = ------ j ------ = ------
6 18 10 90 8 32 7 42 12 48
10 5 3 5 2
k ------ = ------ l --- = ------ m --- = ------ n --- = ------ o --- = ------
11 33 8 48 4 36 6 24 9 72
3 5 11 7 2
p --- = ------ q --- = ------ r ------ = ------ s ------ = ------ t --- = ------
8 40 9 63 12 60 10 40 3 36

4 Complete the following equivalent fractions.

1 5 12 5 10 18 7 28
a --- = ----- b ----- = ------ c ----- = ------ d ----- = ------ e ----- = ------
2 7 21 16 4 24 36
9 45 5 35 2 24 3 18 96
f ------ = ------ g ----- = ------ h --- = ------ i ---- = ------ j ----- = ---------
10 42 3 48 9 108

■ Further applications
5 Express each mixed numeral as an improper fraction, then form an equivalent fraction.
1 3 1 1
a 1 --- = ----- b 1 --- = ----- c 2 --- = ------ d 3 --- = ------
2 6 4 8 5 20 7 21
5 1 3 7
e 1 --- = ------ f 5 --- = ------ g 1 --- = ------ h 2 --- = ------
6 24 4 12 7 35 8 16
5 2 3 1
i 1 ------ = ------ j 2 --- = ------ k 3 --- = ------ l 6 --- = ------
12 24 3 24 4 12 9 18
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 123

4.4 Simplifying fractions

A fraction is said to be in simplest form when the highest common factor of the numerator and
denominator is 1.

To simplify a fraction:

find the highest common factor (HCF) of the numerator and denominator

divide both the numerator and denominator by this HCF.

NOTE: The divisibility tests which were introduced in chapter 2 may prove useful here.

Example 1 Solutions
EG Simplify: a The HCF of 5 and 20 is 5. b The HCF of 9 and 12 is 3.
+S
5 5 1 (÷ 5) 9 3 (÷ 3)
a ------ ------ ------
20 20 4 ( ÷ 5 ) 12 4 ( ÷ 3 )
9 1 3
b ------ = --- = ---
12 4 4

Example 2 Solution
EG 60 60 ( ÷ 10 )
+S Simplify --------- . The HCF of 60 and 400 is 20, ---------
400 400 ( ÷ 10 )
but this may not be obvious. So we
simplify the fraction in two stages. 6 3 (÷ 2)
= ------
40 20 ( ÷ 2 )
3
= ------
20

Exercise 4.4

1 Use the given diagrams to express each fraction in simplest form.

a b c

3 ___ 2 ___ 6 ___

--- = --- = --- =
6 8 9
124 Mathscape 7

d e f

9 4 20 ___
------ = ___ ------ = ___ ------ =
12 10 24

2 Copy and complete each of the following.

2 ÷ 2 ___ 3 ÷ 3 ___ 5 ÷ 5 ___
a --- = b ------ = c ------ =
6÷2 18 ÷ 3 20 ÷ 5

3 Express each fraction in its simplest form.

2 5 3 7 6 10
a --- b ------ c ------ d ------ e ------ f ------
8 10 15 21 30 80
4 8 2 9 7 3
g ------ h ------ i ------ j ------ k ------ l ------
28 32 22 27 35 36
11 5 10 12 8 7
m ------ n ------ o --------- p ------ q ------ r ------
66 45 100 48 64 63
9 8 11 12 9 8
s ------ t ------ u ------ v ------ w ------ x ------
81 56 88 84 54 96

■ Consolidation
4 Copy and complete each of the following.
6 ÷ 2 ___ 9 ÷ 3 ___ 12 ÷ 4 ___
a ------ = b ------ = c ------ =
10 ÷ 2 15 ÷ 3 20 ÷ 4
50 ÷ 10 ___ 18 ÷ 6 ___ 35 ÷ 5 ___
d ------ = e ------ = f ------ =
60 ÷ 10 30 ÷ 6 45 ÷ 5
14 ÷ 7 ___ 36 ÷ 9 ___ 60 ÷ 12 ___
g ------ = h ------ = i --------- =
63 ÷ 7 45 ÷ 9 132 ÷ 12

5 Complete these equivalent fractions.

12 20 21 15 32
a ------ = ----- b ------ = ----- c ------ = ----- d ------ = ----- e ------ = -----
15 5 24 6 27 9 25 5 36 9
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 125

6 Express each fraction in its simplest form.

6 8 15 10 6 16
a --- b ------ c ------ d ------ e ------ f ------
8 12 18 15 21 18
30 14 27 44 55 12
g ------ h ------ i ------ j ------ k ------ l ------
50 21 30 77 60 30
14 10 12 40 18 28
m ------ n ------ o ------ p ------ q ------ r ------
22 45 44 48 21 35
25 49 18 100 36 88
s ------ t ------ u ------ v --------- w ------ x ---------
30 70 24 110 42 121

7 Simplify:
22 49 24 42 15 30
a ------ b ------ c ------ d ------ e ------ f ------
99 63 60 48 50 54
49 36 40 32 60 56
g ------ h ------ i ------ j ------ k ------ l ------
56 81 64 56 72 96
45 72 35 42 70 121
m --------- n ------ o ------ p ------ q ------ r ---------
108 84 63 49 80 132

8 Simplify:
10 30 20 90
a --------- b --------- c --------- d ---------
300 500 150 400
500 900 210 300
e --------- f ------------ g ------------ h ----------------
800 1000 2500 20 000

9 Express each of these improper fractions as a mixed numeral, in simplest form.

15 20 12 16 14 21
a ------ b ------ c ------ d ------ e ------ f ------
10 16 9 14 6 15
28 27 24 55 39 63
g ------ h ------ i ------ j ------ k ------ l ------
10 12 9 15 24 14

■ Further applications
TOR
LA
10 Express each fraction in its simplest form. Verify your answers using the fraction key on
CA U
LC

your calculator.
150 315 154 275
a --------- b --------- c --------- d ---------
210 420 198 300
320 240 168 252
e --------- f --------- g --------- h ---------
480 288 240 315
126 Mathscape 7

4.5 The relative sizes of fractions

To arrange a set of fractions in ascending order, use one of the following methods.
METHOD 1

express the fractions with a common denominator

arrange the fractions in ascending order by ordering the numerators

express the fractions in their original form.
METHOD 2

consider the relative sizes of the fractions by inspection.

Example 1
EG Insert ⬍ or ⬎ to make a true statement in each of these.
+S
4 10 5 9
a --- ------ b --- ------
5 9 6 11

Solutions
a 4--5- is a proper fraction, so its value is less than 1, while 10
------ is an improper fraction, so its
9
value is greater than 1.
4 10
∴ --- ⬍ ------
5 9
b Both fractions are proper fractions and it is too difficult to determine which is the larger
by inspection. Therefore, we express the fractions with a common denominator, then
compare the numerators.
5 × 11 55 9 × 6 54
--- = ------ and ------ = ------
6 × 11 66 11 × 6 66
55 54 5 9
Now, ------ ⬎ ------ , ∴ --- ⬎ ------
66 66 6 11

Example 2
EG Arrange these fractions in ascending order by at first expressing them with a common
+S denominator, i.e. using method 1.
3 1 5 19 ----- 9
--- , --- , --- , ------ , -
5 2 8 40 20

Solution
3 × 8 24 1 × 20 20 5 × 5 25 9 × 2 18
--- = ------ , --- = ------ , --- = ------ , ------ = ------
5 × 8 40 2 × 20 40 8 × 5 40 20 × 2 40
18 19 20 24 25
Rearranging these fractions in order gives ------ , ------ , ------ , ------ , ------
40 40 40 40 40
9 19 1 3 5
i.e. ------ , ------ , --- , --- , ---
20 40 2 5 8
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 127

Example 3
EG Arrange these fractions in ascending order by inspection, i.e. using method 2.
+S
8 4 2 11
--- , --- , ------ , ------
7 9 15 12

Solution
2
i The smallest fraction by inspection is ------ .
15
ii The next largest fraction is 4--9- , which is approximately 1--2- .
11
iii The next largest fraction is ------ ,
12
which is slightly less than 1.
8
iv The largest fraction is --- , which is the only improper fraction and hence it is greater than 1.
7
2 4 11 8
∴ In ascending order, the fractions are ------ , --- , ------ , --- .
15 9 12 7
NOTE: Fractions with different denominators cannot be ordered by looking at the
numerators.

Exercise 4.5

1 Insert ⬍ or ⬎ to make a true statement.

3 7 6 11 15 9
a --- --- b --- ------ c ------ ---
4 6 5 12 17 8
2 10 16 29 3 99
d --- ------ e ------ ------ f --- ---------
3 9 13 30 2 100

2 Arrange these fractions in ascending order.

8 2 4 11 8 1 5 10 3 7 13 4 1
a 1, --- , 1 --- , --- b ------ , --- , 1 --- , --- c ------ , 1 ------ , ------ , 1 d ------ , --- , 1 --- , 2
7 7 7 9 9 9 9 11 11 11 5 5 5

3 Express each pair of fractions with a common denominator, then insert ⬍ or ⬎ to make a
true statement.
2 5 3 4 5 3
a --- --- b --- --- c --- ---
3 8 4 5 6 4
5 2 7 9 3 1
d ------ --- e --- ------ f ------ ---
12 5 8 10 11 3

■ Consolidation
4 Arrange each group of fractions in ascending order, by at first expressing them with a
common denominator (i.e. using method 1).
5 1 1 1 1 9 19 1 3 5 7 3 2 9 1
a ------ , --- , --- , --- , --- b ------ , ------ , --- , --- , --- c ------ , --- , --- , ------ , ---
12 4 6 2 3 16 32 2 4 8 10 4 5 20 2
128 Mathscape 7

7 4 13 1 5 4 1 5 13 1 11 2 1 3 4
d ------ , --- , ------ , --- , ------ e --- , --- , --- , ------ , --- f ------ , --- , --- , ------ , ------
18 9 36 3 12 9 3 6 18 2 30 5 3 10 15
11 1 3 5 1 11 21 1 8 3 2 17 1
--5- ,
3
g ------ , --- , --- , ------ , --- h --- , ------ , ------ , --- i ------ , ------ , --- , ------ , ---
24 2 8 12 3 8 5 20 40 2 15 10 5 50 2

5 Arrange each group of fractions in ascending order by inspection (i.e. using method 2).
7 5 1 11 3 1 6 12 7 11 6 1
a --- , ------ , --- , ------ b --- , --- , --- , ------ c --- , ------ , ------ , ------
6 11 7 12 7 9 5 13 8 10 13 14
11 3 8 15 1 14 10 13 21 1 8 7
d ------ , ------ , --- , ------ e --- , ------ , ------ , ------ f ------ , ------ , --- , ------
23 50 7 17 8 15 19 9 22 16 5 15
19 1 12 7 4 8 13 2 3 1 17 16
g ------ , --- , ------ , --- h --- , ------ , ------ , ------ i --- , ------ , ------ , ------
20 2 23 6 3 15 14 21 5 18 16 17

■ Further applications
6 Determine by inspection, which fraction is less than one half and which fraction is greater
than one half. Hence, insert ⬍ or ⬎ to make a true statement.
3 5 7 4 3 6 8 5
a --- --- b ------ --- c --- ------ d ------ ------
7 9 12 9 8 11 15 11
10 10 2 7 9 9 11 12
e ------ ------ f --- ------ g ------ ------ h ------ ------
19 21 5 13 20 16 21 25

4.6 Fractions on the number line

To identify fractions on a number line:

determine the fraction into which each interval of length 1 unit has been divided

count up or down along the number line by this fraction.

Example
EG State the fraction or mixed numeral represented by A, B, C on each number line.
+S
a
0 A B 1 C

b
0 A 1 B 2 C

c
C 5 A 6 B 7

Solutions
a The interval between 0 and 1 is divided into 5 equal units, so each small unit represents
the fraction 1--5- .
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 129

A B C
1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 1 2
0 5 5 5 5 1 1_5 1_5
1 3 2
∴ A = --- , B = --- , C = 1 ---
1_ 5 5 5
1 whole ÷ 5 = 5

b The interval between 0 and 1 is divided into 3 equal units, so each small unit represents
the fraction 1--3- .
A B C
1_ 2_ 1 2 1
0 3 3 1 1_3 1_3 2 2 _3
1 2 1
∴ A = --- , B = 1 --- , C = 2 ---
1 whole ÷ 3 =
1_ 3 3 3
3

c The interval between 5 and 6 is divided into 4 equal units, so each small unit represents
the fraction 1--4- .
3
C A B ∴ A = 5 ---
4
3_ 1_ 1_ 3_ 1
_ 1
_ 3
_
44 5 54 52 54 6 64 62 64 7 2
B = 6 ---
4
1
1 whole ÷ 4 = _4 1
= 6 ---
2
1
C = 5 − ---
4
3
= 4 ---
4

Exercise 4.6

1 State the fractions represented by A and B on each number line.

a b
0 A B 1 0 A B 1

c d
0 A B 1 0 A B 1

e f
0 A B 1 0 A B 1

2 Write down the fraction or mixed numeral represented by P, Q and R on each number line.
a b
0 P 1 Q 2 R 3 0 P 1 Q 2 R 3

c d
0 P 1 Q R 2 4 P Q 5 R 6

e f
5 P Q 6 R 7 8 P 9 Q 10 R 11
 130 Mathscape 7

■ Consolidation
3 Write down the fraction or mixed numeral represented by X, Y and Z on each number line.
a b
Z 1 X 2 Y Z 2 X 3 4 Y

c
Z 5 X 6 7 Y

d
Z 8 9 X 10 Y

4 Write down the fraction, mixed numeral or whole number whose position is marked by E,
F, G and H on each number line.
a b
H 3 F E 5 G H 6 E F 8 G

c d
H 5 E F 9 G H 1 E F 4 G

■ Further applications
TOR
LA
5 Find the mixed numeral or whole number whose position is marked by L, M and N in each
CA U
LC

of these. You may need to use a calculator.

a
3 7
3 _8 L M 10 _8 N

b
1 14
2 _3 L M 3 __
15 N

c
1
N 2 _2 L 5 M

4.7 Expressing one quantity as a

fraction of another
To express one quantity as a fraction of another:

rewrite the question, if necessary, in the form ‘What fraction is  of ⌬?’

express the quantities in the same units
first quantity()

write ------------------------------------------------- and simplify.
second quantity(∆)

Example 1
EG a What fraction is 5 of 20? b What fraction is 8 of 12?
+S
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 131

Solutions

a
first quantity 51
------------------------------------- = ----- b
first quantity 82
------------------------------------- = -----
- -
second quantity 20 4 second quantity 12 3
1 2
= --- = ---
4 3

Example 2
EG a What fraction is $2.50 of $4? b What fraction is 50 minutes of 1 1--2- hours?
+S
Solutions
first quantity 250
a i $4 = 400c ii ------------------------------------- = ---------
second quantity 400
$2.50 = 250c
5
= 25
------
40 8
5
= ---
8
1 1 first quantity 5
b i 1 --- h = 1 --- × 60 min ii ------------------------------------- = 50
------
2 2 second quantity 90 9
= 90 min 5
= ---
9

Exercise 4.7

1 What fraction:
a is 5 of 10? b is 4 of 12? c is 5 of 20? d is 10 of 30?
e is 7 of 28? f is 8 of 56? g is 15 of 20? h is 16 of 24?
i is 27 of 33? j is 14 of 35? k is 25 of 40? l is 36 of 84?
2 What fraction:
a is 6 of 3? b is 10 of 2? c is 12 of 3?
d is 21 of 14? e is 15 of 12? f is 42 of 36?

■ Consolidation
3 What fraction:
a is $0.30 of $0.60? b is $0.70 of $1.20? c is $0.50 of $1.50?
d is $1 of $1.60? e is $1.80 of $2.40? f is $2.50 of $3.50?
g is $1.50 of $5? h is $4 of $6.40? i is $3.50 of $2?
j is $2.10 of $3.30? k is $5.40 of $6? l is $2.40 of $2.70?

4 What fraction:
a is 40 minutes of 1 hour? b is 25 minutes of 1 hour?
c is 9 hours of 1 day? d is 48 seconds of 1 minute?
132 Mathscape 7

e is 30 minutes of 2 hours? f is 16 hours of 2 days?

g is 10 months of 1 1--2- years? h is 1 minute of 2 1--2- minutes?
i is 50 seconds of 1 1--4- minutes? j is 64 hours of 3 days?
k is 1 1--3- hours of 45 minutes? l is 2 1--4- years of 1 1--2- years?

5 The petrol tank in Lenore’s car holds 50 litres when full. If the tank contains 35 litres of
petrol at present, what fraction of the tank is full?
6 Pat Rafter served 21 aces from his 280 serves during a tennis match. What fraction of
the serves were aces?
7 A baker baked 5 dozen loaves of bread in the early morning. By ten o’clock she had sold
45 loaves. What fraction of the loaves did she sell?
8 Kat earns $560 p.w. He pays $210 p.w. in rent. What fraction of his weekly pay does Kat
pay in rent?
9 If 120 out of 210 passengers got off the train at Central Station to go to work, what fraction
of the passengers remained on the train?
10 Omar bought a new car for $24 000 in 1999. The value of the car depreciated by $4500 in
2000 and another $3500 in 2001. What fraction of the car’s original value remains?

11 Lloyd invested $12 000 in Optel shares, then checked the share price twice during the
following year. On the first occasion he found that the shares had increased in value by
$1500, however on the second occasion he found that they had decreased in value by
$3500. What fraction of the original share value was lost overall?
12 A customer paid a deposit of $48 on a bicycle with a retail price of $108. What fraction of
the cost of the bicycle is still owed?

13 A farmer uses 150 ha of his 450 ha property to grow wheat, 120 ha to grow barley and the
remaining area is used to graze cattle. What fraction of the property is used to graze cattle?
14 The ferry fare was increased from $1.80 to $2.20 by the state government. By what fraction
was the fare increased?

■ Further applications
15 What fraction is one second of one day?

16 By drawing a diagram where necessary, find what fraction:

a 1--2- is of 1 1--2- b 1--4- is of 1 3--4- ? c 2--3- is of 4 d 1 1--2- is of 6
e 3
---
4
is of 2 f 5
---
6
is of 3 g 4
---
5
is of 1 1--5- ? h 2 1--3- is of 3 1--3- ?

17 If 1⍀ = 3⌿ and 2⍀ = 5⌽, what fraction is ⌿ of ⌽?

 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 133

4.8 Addition and subtraction of fractions

with common denominators
To add or subtract fractions with common denominators:

add or subtract any whole numbers

add or subtract the fractions

express any improper fractions as mixed numerals

simplify the fraction if possible.

Example 1
EG Evaluate:
+S
4 3 16 4 1
a ------ + ------ b ------ – ------ c 5 + ---
11 11 17 17 4
3 5 3 2 5 4
d --- + --- e 4 --- – 1 --- f 3 --- + 7 ---
8 8 5 5 9 9

Solutions
4 3 7 16 4 12 1 1
a ------ + ------ = ------ b ------ – ------ = ------ c 5 + --- = 5 ---
11 11 11 17 17 17 4 4
3 5 8 3 2 1 5 4 9
d --- + --- = --- e 4 --- – 1 --- = 3 --- f 3 --- + 7 --- = 10 ---
8 8 8 5 5 5 9 9 9
=1 = 10 + 1
= 11

Example 2
EG Evaluate:
+S
9 3 8 4 6 4
a ------ – ------ b 2 ------ + 1 ------ c 1 --- + 5 ---
10 10 15 15 7 7

Solutions

a
9 3 63
------ – ------ = ----- b
8 4
2 ------ + 1 ------ = 3 12
4
c
6 4 10
1 --- + 5 --- = 6 ------
- ------
10 10 10 5 15 15 15 5 7 7 7
3 4 3
= --- = 3 --- = 6 + 1 ---
5 5 7
3
= 7 ---
7
134 Mathscape 7

Exercise 4.8

1 Evaluate:
3 1 7 2 1 1 9 6
a --- + --- b --- – --- c --- + --- d ------ – ------
7 7 9 9 3 3 13 13
8 2 1 3 1 1 2 1
e ------ – ------ f --- + --- g --- – --- h --- + ---
11 11 5 5 8 8 3 3
1 3 3 3 5 5 5 1
i --- + --- j ------ – ------ k ------ – ------ l --- + ---
4 4 10 10 12 12 6 6
1 2 4 7
m 5 + --- n --- + 4 o 2 + --- p --- + 3
2 3 5 8

2 Evaluate:
1 2 6 1
a 3 --- + 2 b 7 --- − 1 c 4 + 1 --- d 6 --- − 2
4 3 7 2
1 3 4 3 2 5 1 1
e 2 --- + --- f 9 --- – --- g --- + 1 --- h --- + 7 ---
7 7 5 5 9 9 3 3
10 4 3 1 1 1 1
i 5 ------ – ------ j 12 --- + --- k 3 --- − 3 l 1 --- – ---
11 11 5 5 4 2 2
1 6 1 4 4 10 2
m 6 ------ − 6 n 4 --- – 1 --- o 3 --- + 2 --- p 3 ------ + 5 ------
10 7 7 9 9 13 13

3 Evaluate:
1 1 3 1 1 2 5 3
a 1 --- + --- b 2 --- + --- c 5 --- + --- d 4 --- + ---
2 2 4 4 3 3 8 8
1 5 4 9 1 1 2 1
e 7 --- + --- f 11 ------ + ------ g 2 --- + 1 --- h 4 --- + 1 ---
6 6 13 13 2 2 3 3
2 3 1 5 4 3 5 7
i 3 --- + 4 --- j 5 --- + 5 --- k 2 --- + 1 --- l 7 ------ + 2 ------
5 5 6 6 7 7 12 12

■ Consolidation
4 Simplify:
3 1 3 1 7 3 1 1
a --- + --- b --- – --- c ------ – ------ d ------ + ------
8 8 4 4 10 10 12 12
5 1 5 3 13 3 2 7
e --- – --- f ------ + ------ g ------ + ------ h ------ + ------
6 6 14 14 20 20 15 15
11 5 19 1 17 5 10 8
i ------ – ------ j ------ – ------ k ------ – ------ l ------ + ------
16 16 24 24 18 18 21 21
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 135

5 Simplify:
1 2 5 1 4 2
a 3 --- + 1 --- b 8 --- – 3 --- c 2 ------ + 1 ------
9 9 6 6 15 15
9 1 7 13 10 4
d 4 ------ – 3 ------ e 1 ------ + 5 ------ f 2 ------ + 9 ------
10 10 24 24 21 21
29 7 17 5 1 17
g 7 ------ – 1 ------ h 6 ------ – 2 ------ i 4 ------ + 2 ------
30 30 18 18 20 20

■ Further applications
6 Simplify:
9 3 11 5 17 7
a ------ + ------ b ------ + ------ c ------ + ------
10 10 12 12 20 20
7 5 5 5 9 7
d --- + --- e 1 --- + 2 --- f 2 ------ + 3 ------
8 8 6 6 10 10
9 11 11 14 19 11
g 4 ------ + 2 ------ h 1 ------ + 1 ------ i 6 ------ + 8 ------
14 14 15 15 20 20

4.9 Further subtraction of

fractions
In this exercise we will look at two special cases involving the subtraction of fractions.
1 Finding the difference between a whole number and a mixed numeral.
2 Finding the difference between two mixed numerals, where the second fraction is greater
than the first.

To subtract a fraction or mixed numeral, where the second fraction is larger than
the first:

subtract 1 from the first whole number and add it on to the adjacent fraction if
there is one

subtract the whole numbers and the fractions

simplify where possible.

Example 1
EG Evaluate:
+S
3 4 5
a 1 − --- b 6 − --- c 4 − 1 ------
8 7 12
136 Mathscape 7

Solutions
3 8 3 4 7 4 5 12 5
a 1 − --- = --- – --- b 6 − --- = 5 --- – --- c 4 − 1 ------ = 3 ------ – 1 ------
8 8 8 7 7 7 12 12 12
5 3 7
= --- = 5 --- = 2 ------
8 7 12

Example 2
EG Evaluate:
+S
4 5 2 4 3 9
a 1 --- – --- b 7 --- – 2 --- c 5 ------ – 3 ------
9 9 5 5 10 10

Solutions
4 5 2 4 3 9
a 1 --- – --- b 7 --- – 2 --- c 5 ------ – 3 ------
9 9 5 5 10 10

= ⎛ 6 --- + ---⎞ – 2 --- = ⎛ 4 ------ + ------⎞ – 3 ------

13 5 5 2 4 10 3 9
= ------ – ---
9 9 ⎝ 5 5⎠ 5 ⎝ 10 10⎠ 10
8 7 4 13 9
= --- = 6 --- – 2 --- = 4 ------ – 3 ------
9 5 5 10 10
3
= 4 --- 42
= 1 -----
-
5 10 5
2
= 1 ---
5

Exercise 4.9

1 Evaluate:
1 1 1 1
a 1 − --- b 1 − --- c 1 − --- d 1 − ---
2 4 3 6
3 5 2 7
e 1 − ------ f 1 − --- g 1 − --- h 1 − ------
10 7 5 12

2 Evaluate:
1 1 1 1
a 2 − --- b 3 − --- c 5 − --- d 7 − ---
2 5 3 4
5 2 7 3
e 3 − --- f 4 − --- g 6 − ------ h 9 − ---
6 3 10 7
8 3 3 2
i 2 − ------ j 5 − ------ k 7 − --- l 11 − ---
11 13 4 9
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 137

■ Consolidation
3 Evaluate:
1 1 2 7
a 2 − 1 --- b 4 − 1 --- c 3 − 1 --- d 6 − 1 ---
2 3 5 8

1 3 5 7
e 7 − 2 --- f 5 − 3 --- g 10 − 3 --- h 4 − 2 ------
3 4 8 12

4 5 3 13
i 6 − 1 --- j 8 − 4 --- k 11 − 5 ------ l 15 − 4 ------
9 6 10 16

4 Evaluate each of the following.

1 2 5 7 4 8 2 4
a 1 --- – --- b 1 --- – --- c 1 ------ – ------ d 1 --- – ---
3 3 9 9 11 11 5 5
1 5 3 4 3 5 1 2
e 2 ------ – ------ f 3 --- – --- g 4 --- – --- h 6 --- – ---
13 13 5 5 7 7 3 3
7 11 2 8 6 9 13 15
i 5 ------ – ------ j 7 ------ – ------ k 8 ------ – ------ l 4 ------ – ------
15 15 11 11 17 17 19 19

5 Evaluate each of these.

1 2 2 3 9 11 1 2
a 5 --- – 4 --- b 4 --- – 1 --- c 6 ------ – 1 ------ d 7 --- – 2 ---
7 7 5 5 13 13 3 3
2 4 4 11 2 3 1 4
e 6 --- – 2 --- f 3 ------ – 2 ------ g 7 --- – 4 --- h 10 ------ – 3 ------
9 9 15 15 5 5 17 17

■ Further applications
6 Simplify:
1 3 3 9 7 13
a 2 --- – 1 --- b 4 ------ – 1 ------ c 5 ------ – 2 ------
8 8 10 10 20 20
1 5 3 7 7 13
d 3 --- – 1 --- e 6 --- – 2 --- f 5 ------ – 1 ------
6 6 8 8 18 18
7 11 1 7 7 13
g 8 ------ – 2 ------ h 4 ------ – 3 ------ i 6 ------ – 3 ------
12 12 15 15 20 20
138 Mathscape 7

4.10 Addition and subtraction of fractions

with different denominators
If two fractions have different denominators, then either one or both fractions must be changed
into equivalent fractions with a common denominator, before they can be added or subtracted.

To add or subtract fractions with different denominators:

add or subtract any whole numbers

express the fractions with the lowest common denominator (LCD)

add or subtract the fractions

simplify where possible.

Example 1
EG Evaluate:
+S 7 3 5 2 9 4
a ------ + --- b --- – --- c 8 ------ – 2 ------
20 5 6 9 10 15

Solutions
a The LCD of 20 and 5 b The LCD of 6 and 9 c The LCD of 10 and 15
is 20. is 18. is 30.
7 3×4 5×3 2×2
--- – ---
9 4
8 ------ – 2 ------
------ + ---
20 5 × 4 6×3 9×2 10 15
7 12 15 4 9 ×3 4 ×2
= ------ + ------ = ------ – ------ = 6 ------ – ------
20 20 18 18 10 × 3 15 × 2
19 11 27 8
= ------ = ------ = 6 ------ – ------
20 18 30 30
19
= 6 ------
30

Example 2 Solutions
EG Evaluate: 5 ×3 7×4 4 8
+S a ------ + --- b 1 --- + 3 ------
5 7 12 × 3 9 × 4 5 15
a ------ + ---
12 9 15 28 4×3 8
= ------ + ------ = 4 --- + ------
b
4 8
1 --- + 3 ------ 36 36 5 × 3 15
5 15 43 12 8
= ------ = 4 ------ + ------
36 15 15
7 20
= 1 ------ = 4 ------
36 15
51
= 4 + 1 ------
15 3
1
= 5 ---
3
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 139

Exercise 4.10
1 1 2
1 a Explain with the use of a diagram why --- + --- ≠ --- .
b What is the correct answer? 2 3 5

2 Evaluate:
1 1 3 1 7 1 3 2
a --- + --- b ------ – --- c --- – --- d ------ + ---
2 4 10 5 8 4 10 5
5 2 11 1 1 9 19 2
e --- – --- f ------ – --- g --- + ------ h ------ – ---
6 3 12 3 4 16 20 5
29 3 5 4 19 3 2 2
i ------ – --- j ------ + --- k ------ – --- l ------ + ---
30 5 18 9 24 4 21 3
3 Evaluate:
1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1
a --- + --- b --- + --- c --- – --- d --- – ---
3 2 4 3 5 8 5 3
1 4 4 3 1 1 3 7
e --- + --- f --- – --- g --- + --- h --- – ------
2 9 5 4 4 6 4 10
5 1 5 7 3 5 7 3
i --- + --- j --- – --- k --- + ------ l ------ + ------
8 6 6 9 8 12 15 10

■ Consolidation
4 Evaluate:
1 2 11 5 7 1 1 5
a 2 --- + 1 --- b 3 ------ – 1 --- c 4 ------ + 1 --- d 1 --- + 2 ---
6 3 12 6 20 2 4 8
19 4 2 2 2 1 6 2
e 7 ------ – 2 --- f 5 --- – 1 --- g 1 --- + 1 --- h 5 --- – 1 ---
20 5 3 9 9 2 7 3
3 2 1 3 7 5 5 4
i 6 --- – 3 --- j 2 ------ + 4 --- k 3 --- – 2 --- l 2 ------ + 1 ---
4 5 10 4 8 6 12 9
5 Evaluate each of these.
3 7 13 2 2 3 7 1 3 9
a --- + ------ b ------ + --- c --- + --- d --- + --- e --- + ------
5 10 15 5 3 4 9 2 4 10
5 5 1 8 5 2 11 2 7 5
f ------ + --- g --- + ------ h --- + --- i ------ + --- j --- + ---
12 8 2 11 8 3 12 5 9 6

6 Evaluate each of the following.

5 2 1 7 3 6 4 5
a 1 ------ + 1 --- b 2 --- + 1 ------ c 1 --- + 1 --- d 1 --- + 2 ---
12 3 2 12 4 7 5 6
9 5 5 7 13 7 11 5
e 2 ------ + 4 ------ f 3 --- + 1 --- g 1 ------ + 1 ------ h 2 ------ + 1 ---
10 12 6 8 22 11 15 6
140 Mathscape 7

4 7 2 3 5 2 4 3
i 3 --- + 2 ------ j 1 --- + 2 --- k 3 --- + 1 --- l 1 --- + 5 ---
5 15 3 4 6 7 9 4

7 Simplify:
1 1 1 1 17 3 1 7
a --- + --- b --- – ------ c ------ – --- d --- + ------
6 2 3 12 20 5 3 15
1 9 7 1 11- + 3--- 5 2
e ------ + ------ f ------ – --- g ----- h --- + ---
11 22 12 3 12 4 6 3
23 3 11 2 13 5 2 17
i ------ + --- j ------ + --- k ------ + --- l --- + ------
24 8 15 3 24 8 5 20

8 Simplify:
11 1 17 3 3 3
a 2 ------ – 1 --- b 3 ------ – 1 --- c 4 --- + 2 ------
12 4 24 8 5 20
9 3 17 1 2 11
d 1 ------ + 1 --- e 2 ------ – 1 --- f 5 --- + 3 ------
10 5 18 6 3 15

■ Further applications
9 Simplify:
1 2 1 7 5 8 3 7
a 3 --- – 1 --- b 4 --- – 1 --- c 4 --- – 2 --- d 3 --- – 2 ------
4 3 2 9 6 9 8 12
3 5 5 2 3 5 1 5
e 7 --- – 3 --- f 5 --- – 2 --- g 6 --- – 1 --- h 3 ------ – 1 ---
5 6 8 3 4 6 12 8
3 5 2 4 1 4 5 9
i 7 ------ – 2 --- j 3 --- – 1 --- k 4 --- – 2 --- l 6 ------ – 1 ------
10 8 3 5 3 7 12 10

4.11 Multiplication of fractions

To multiply fractions:

express any mixed numerals as improper fractions

divide the terms in the numerator and denominator by their HCF, vertically or
diagonally

multiply the numerators, then multiply the denominators

express any improper fractions as mixed numerals.
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 141

Example 1 Solutions
EG Evaluate: 3 5 1 4 1
+S a --- × --- b --- × --- c 3 × 2 ---
3 5 4 8 3 1 2
a --- × ---
4 8 3×5 1×4 3 5
= ------------ = ------------ = --- × ---
1 4×8 3×1 1 2
b --- × 4
3 15 4 15
= ------ = --- = ------
1 32 3 2
c 3 × 2 ---
2 1 1
= 1 --- = 7 ---
3 2

Example 2 Solutions
EG Evaluate: 31 1 15 5 20 5
+S a ------ × 5--- b ------ × ------ c
3 3
3 --- × 1 ---
3 5 10 2 9 3 16 4 21 7 4 5
a ------ × ---
10 9
1×1 5×5 15 3 8 2
15 20 = ------------ = ------------ = ------ × ---
b ------ × ------ 2×3 4×7 41 5 1
16 21
1 25 3×2
3 3 = --- = ------ = ------------
c 3 --- × 1 --- 6 28 1×1
4 5
=6

Exercise 4.11

1 Evaluate each of the products below by shading squares. (Each rectangle represents one
whole.)
a b c

1 1
--- × ---
2 2 2 4
--- × ---
3 5
1 1
--- × ---
3 4
2 Evaluate:
1 1 1 1 2 3 3 9 3 7
a --- × --- b --- × --- c --- × --- d --- × ------ e --- × ------
2 4 3 2 5 7 4 11 4 10
5 3 1 7 2 5 7 4 11 5
f --- × --- g --- × --- h --- × --- i --- × --- j ------ × ---
7 8 6 8 3 9 9 5 12 6
142 Mathscape 7

3 Evaluate:
1 1 1 1
a 5 × --- b --- × 2 c --- × 4 d 3 × ---
8 3 7 5
1 1 1 1
e --- × 5 f 7 × --- g --- × 6 h 11 × ---
3 2 5 4
3 4 2 3
i --- × 7 j 5 × --- k --- × 8 l 12 × ---
4 9 3 5

4 Evaluate each of the following.

1 1 3 2
a 3 × 1 --- b 5 × 1 --- c 2 ------ × 3 d 4 --- × 2
4 6 10 5
3 3 2 1
e 2 × 2 --- f 1 --- × 8 g 4 × 1 --- h 2 --- × 7
5 7 3 4

■ Consolidation
5 Simplify each of the following by cancelling all common factors and then multiplying.
3 5 11 4 3 8 7 5
a --- × --- b ------ × --- c --- × ------ d ------ × ------
4 6 12 7 5 15 10 14
11 7 5 3 10 14 14 18
e ------ × ------ f ------ × ------ g ------ × ------ h ------ × ------
21 22 12 20 21 15 27 35
15 13 42 33 24 7 15 16
i ------ × ------ j ------ × ------ k ------ × -----
- l ------ × ------
26 20 55 49 35 36 28 21
33 35 21 20 11 20 35 13
m ------ × ------ n ------ × ------ o ------ × ------ p ------ × ------
40 44 44 49 24 33 39 60

6 Simplify each of these.

3 4 4 1 7 5 7 7
a --- × 1 ------ b --- × 1 ------ c 1 ------ × --- d --- × 1 ------
5 11 7 20 25 8 9 20
4 1 2 7 3 1
e 5 × 1 ------ f 2 --- × 6 g 2 --- × 1 --- h 3 --- × 1 ---
15 3 5 8 4 5
1 1 2 1 4 13 17 1
i 1 --- × 3 --- j 2 --- × 1 --- k 1 ------ × 1 ------ l 1 ------ × 1 ------
6 3 9 5 21 15 28 20

7 What is the effect of multiplying a number by a fraction that is:

a less than 1? b equal to 1? c greater than 1?
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 143

■ Further applications
8 Simplify:
3 10 7
------ × ------ × 12
4 5 3 14 20
a --- × ------ × ------ b ------ c --- × ------ × ------
5 21 16 15 16 13 4 15 21
18 11 8 12 25 2 7 16 13
d ------ × 1 ------ × --- e ------ × ------ × 2 --- f 1 --- × ------ × 1 ------
25 24 9 45 36 5 8 21 15

4.12 Division of fractions

To divide fractions, we first need to change the question into a multiplication. This will require
taking the reciprocal of one of the fractions. To find the reciprocal of a fraction, swap the
numbers in the numerator and denominator. For example, the reciprocal of 5--7- is 7--5- . In some
simple questions, however, answers can be found by inspection.

To divide fractions:

express any mixed numerals as improper fractions

change the division sign to multiplication

take the reciprocal of the fraction which follows the division sign

proceed as for the multiplication of fractions.

Example 1 Solutions
EG Evaluate each a 1 ÷ 1--5- can be interpreted as ‘how many
+S of these by fifths are there in 1 whole?’ Now, there
1– 1– 1– 1– 1–
5 5 5 5 5
inspection. are 5 fifths in 1 whole, ∴ 1 ÷ 1--5- = 5.
1 b 2 ÷ 1--3- can be interpreted as
a 1 ÷ --- 1 1
5 ‘how many thirds are there in 2
_
3
_
3
1 wholes?’ Now, there are 6 thirds
b 2 ÷ --- 1
_ 1
_ 1
_ 1
_
3 in 2 wholes, ∴ 2 ÷ 1--3- = 6. 3 3 3 3

1 1
c 1 --- ÷ --- c 1 1--2- ÷ 1--4- can be interpreted as ‘how
2 4 1
_ 1
_ 1
_ 1
_
many quarters are there in 1 whole 4 4 4 4
and a half?’ Now, there are
4 quarters in 1 whole and 1
_ 1
_ 1
_ 1
_
4 4 4 4
2 quarters in one half,
∴ 1 1--2- ÷ 1--4- = 6.

Example 2
EG Evaluate:
+S
4 5 7 35 49 3 16
a --- ÷ --- b --- ÷ 3 c ------ ÷ ------ d 1 --- ÷ ------
9 7 8 99 90 5 25
144 Mathscape 7

Solutions
4 5 7 3 35 49 3 16
a --- ÷ --- b --- ÷ --- c ------ ÷ ------ d 1 --- ÷ ------
9 7 8 1 99 90 5 25
4 7 7 1 35 5 90 10 8 16
= --- × --- = --- × --- = ------ × ------ = --- ÷ ------
9 5 8 3 99 11 49 7 5 25
28 7 50 8 1 25 5
= ------ = ------ = ------ = --- × ------
45 24 77 5 1 16 2
5
= ---
2
1
= 2 ---
2

Exercise 4.12

1 Find the reciprocal of each of the following.

3 5 2 4 7
a --- b ------ c --- d --- e ------
4 11 3 9 12
1 1
f --- g --- h 3 i 5 j 9
2 4
1 2 3 1 3
k 1 --- l 1 --- m 2 --- n 3 --- o 4 ---
2 3 5 7 4

2 Evaluate each of these by inspection.

1 1 1 1
a 1 ÷ --- b 1 ÷ --- c 1 ÷ --- d 1 ÷ ---
2 3 5 8
1 1 1 1
e 2 ÷ --- f 2 ÷ --- g 3 ÷ --- h 4 ÷ ---
2 4 3 5
1 1 1 1
i 5 ÷ --- j 2 ÷ --- k 7 ÷ --- l 6 ÷ ---
3 6 4 8
1 1 2 1 3 1 1 1
m 1 --- ÷ --- n 1 --- ÷ --- o 1 --- ÷ --- p 2 --- ÷ ---
2 2 3 3 4 4 2 4

3 a Find:
1 1
i 1 ÷ --- and 1 × 4 ii 2 ÷ --- and 2 × 3
4 3
1 1
iii 3 ÷ 4 and 3 × --- iv 5 ÷ 2 and 5 × ---
4 2
b Is division by a fraction or integer equivalent to multiplication by its reciprocal?
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 145

4 Evaluate:
3 4 2 1 2 3 7 8 5 6
a --- ÷ --- b ------ ÷ --- c --- ÷ --- d ------ ÷ --- e --- ÷ ---
7 5 13 3 3 4 10 9 9 7
3 5 5 4 4 5 2 3 5 8
f ------ ÷ ------ g --- ÷ --- h --- ÷ --- i --- ÷ --- j ------ ÷ ------
14 11 8 5 7 6 7 4 12 11

■ Consolidation
5 Evaluate:
5 2 10 3 5 3 9 5 5 2
a --- ÷ --- b ------ ÷ --- c --- ÷ --- d ------ ÷ --- e ------ ÷ ---
9 5 11 4 8 7 11 7 12 7

6 Evaluate:
1 3 5 2 3 5
a --- ÷ 5 b --- ÷ 2 c --- ÷ 3 d 3 ÷ --- e 4 ÷ --- f 2 ÷ ---
3 4 8 5 4 6

7 Simplify each of the following.

3 9 27 9 21 28 15 25
a --- ÷ ------ b ------ ÷ ------ c ------ ÷ ------ d ------ ÷ ------
8 16 50 10 44 33 49 42
14 49 40 45 2 8 12 2
e ------ ÷ ------ f ------ ÷ ------ g --- ÷ -----
- h ------ ÷ ---
27 66 99 88 3 15 25 5
6 36 16 24 40 32 16 24
i --- ÷ ------ j ------ ÷ ------ k ------ ÷ ------ l ------ ÷ ------
7 77 21 35 49 63 35 55

8 Simplify each of these.

5 1 10 7 1 20 3 13
a --- ÷ 1 --- b ------ ÷ 1 ------ c 1 ------ ÷ ------ d 5 --- ÷ 2 ------
6 3 11 33 14 21 5 25
13 36 1 19 5 11 7 7
e 1 ------ ÷ ------ f 1 --- ÷ 1 ------ g 1 --- ÷ 1 ------ h 1 ------ ÷ 4 ------
35 77 7 21 7 49 15 12

■ Further applications
9 Simplify:
3 7 9 4 15
a --- × ------ ÷ ------ b --- × ------ ÷ 1 11------ c
12 18 10
------ ÷ ------ ÷ ------
5 16 10 7 25 21 35 25 21
25 19 13 7 50 15 1 1 3
d ------ × 1 ------ ÷ 1 ------ e 1 ------ ÷ ------ × ------ f 1 ------ ÷ 1 ------ ÷ 2 ---
28 30 42 33 77 24 20 26 5
146 Mathscape 7

4.13 Finding a fraction of a quantity

To find a fraction of a quantity:

convert the quantity to a smaller unit if necessary

multiply the fraction by the quantity.

The conversions below will be needed in the following exercise. They will be treated in more
depth in later chapters.

10 mm = 1 cm 1000 mg = 1 g 1000 mL = 1 L
100 cm = 1 m 1000 g = 1 kg 1000 L = 1 kL
1000 m = 1 km 1000 kg = 1 t
60 s = 1 min 10 years = 1 decade
60 min = 1 hour 100 years = 1 century
24 hours = 1 day

Example
EG Find each of the following.
+S
9 7 3 1
a ------ of $3 b ------ of 5 kg c --- of 1 --- hours
20 25 5 2

Solutions
9 7 3 1
a ------ of $3 b ------ of 5 kg c --- of 1 --- hours
20 25 5 2
15 200 18
9 7 3
= ------ × 300 c = ------ × 5000 g = --- × 90 min
20 1 25 1 51
= 135c = 1400 g = 54 min
= $1.35

Exercise 4.13

1 Find each of the following.

1 1 1 1
a --- of $1 b ------ of $1 c --- of $1 d --- of $2
2 10 4 5
3 3 7 11
e ------ of $5 f --- of $12 g ------ of $3 h ------ of $4
10 4 20 25
9 2 3 4
i ------ of $7 j --- of $2.70 k --- of $3.20 l --- of $4.50
50 3 4 5
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 147

2 Find each of the following.

1 1 1 3
a --- of 1 hour b --- of 1 minute c --- of 1 day d --- of 1 hour
3 2 4 4
2 7 2 5
e --- of 1 decade f ------ of 1 century g --- of 2 minutes h --- of 2 days
5 20 3 8
9 4 1 2
i ------ of 5 hours j --- of 1 --- hours k --- of 2 1--- days l
3
------ of 2 centuries
10 5 2 3 2 25

3 Find each of the following.

1 1 1 9
a --- of 1 cm b ------ of 1 m c --- of 1 km d ------ of 1 m
2 10 4 10
3 7 3 4
e --- of 1 cm f ------ of 1 km g --- of 2 cm h ------ of 5 km
5 20 4 25
5 2 1 7 1 3 1
i --- of 3 m j --- of 3 --- cm k ------ of 1 --- m l --- of 2 --- km
6 5 2 25 2 4 2

4 Find each of the following.

1 1 1 2
a ------ of 1 kg b --- of 1 g c --- of 1 t d --- of 1 L
10 5 2 5
1 3 4 3
e --- of 1 kL f --- of 1 L g --- of 2 kg h ------ of 7 g
2 4 5 10
7 3 1 2
i ------ of 3 kL j --- of 2 --- L k --- of 4 1--- t l
9 1
------ of 1 --- kL
20 5 2 3 2 50 2

■ Consolidation
2
5 Ariane is a fruit picker. Of the first 112 apples she picked, ---
7
had gone bad. How many of
the apples picked were bad?
5
6 George spent ------
12
of the day sleeping. For how many hours was he asleep?

7 Keith got 5 out of every 8 questions correct on his science test. If there were 72 questions
on the test, find the number that Keith got correct.

8 Sing-Pey had to drive 900 km from Sydney to Melbourne. She stopped to have lunch
7
after -----
10
- of the journey was completed. How far does she still have to drive?

9 A crowd of 24 000 people turned up to watch a Rugby League match between Brisbane
and Parramatta. If 3--8- of the supporters were Brisbane fans, find the number of Parramatta
supporters in the crowd.

10 Alicia spent 1 1--4- hours shopping at the local mall and 2--5- of this time was spent in the first
shop. How much longer did Alicia spend at the mall after leaving the first shop?
148 Mathscape 7

11 A carpenter purchased a 1 1--2- metre length of timber. He used 1--5- of this to make a chair leg
and 3--8- of the remainder to make a picture frame. What length of timber remains unused?
12 The capacity of a backyard swimming pool is 60 kL. If the pool is initially 3--4- full, and then
2
------ of the water is lost due to evaporation over several months, find the amount of water
15
remaining in the pool.

■ Further applications
13 An advertising salesman is given a bonus of 2--5- of his regular weekly pay after successfully
managing a major contract. If the salesman’s regular monthly pay is $2600, find the amount
of his bonus.
14 Josh and David are brothers. Between them, Josh owns 4--7- of the stamps in their collection
and David owns the rest. Two weeks later, Josh has double the number of stamps he owned
previously while David has triple the number that he had. If there are now 340 stamps in
the collection, find the number of stamps which each boy owns.

4.14 The unitary method

The unitary method can be used to find the size of a quantity when only a fraction of its value
is known.

To find the size of a quantity given a fraction of its value:

find the unit fraction value of the quantity (i.e. divide the quantity by the
numerator)

find the entire quantity (i.e. multiply by the denominator).

A diagram can be very useful for understanding the unitary method.

Example 1
EG Find the number if:
+S
1 4
a --- of the number is 4. b --- of the number is 36.
6 5

Solutions
1
a --- of the number is 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
6 ×6
×6
1
_
6 of the no. is 4
--- of the number is 24 6
6
∴ the number is 24.
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 149

4
b --- of the number is 36 9 9 9 9 9
5 ÷4
÷4
4
_
1 of the no. is 36
--- of the number is 9 5
5 ×5
×5
5
--- of the number is 45
5
∴ the number is 45.

Example 2
EG After driving --58- of the distance from Sumville to
+S Plus Town, Ray saw this sign which was partially
damaged by a recent bushfire.
a How far is it between Sumville and Plus Town?
b How much further does Ray still have to drive?

Solutions
5
a --- of the distance between b 96 km − 60 km = 36 km
8 ∴ Ray still has 36 km to drive.
the towns is 60 km
5
--- represents 60 km
8
1 ÷5 ÷5
∴ --- represents 12 km
8
8 ×8 ×8
∴ --- represents 96 km
8
∴ the distance between the towns is 96 km.

Exercise 4.14

1 In each diagram below, the number is represented by the whole rectangle. Use these
diagrams to find the value of the number if:
a b c
5 4 7

1 1 1
--- of the number is 5 --- of the number is 4 --- of the number is 7
2 3 4
150 Mathscape 7

d e f

12 15 40
2 3 5
--- of the number is 12 --- of the number is 15 --- of the number is 40
3 4 7

2 Find the number if:

1 1 1
a --- of the number is 6 b --- of the number is 5 c --- of the number is 2
2 3 5
1 1 1
d --- of the number is 9 e --- of the number is 3 f --- of the number is 5
4 7 6
1 1 1
g --- of the number is 2 h --- of the number is 6 i ------ of the number is 4
9 8 11

■ Consolidation
3 Find the number if:
2 3 2
a --- of the number is 8 b --- of the number is 18 c --- of the number is 14
3 4 5
7 4 3
d --- of the number is 28 e --- of the number is 12 f ------ of the number is 15
8 9 10
10 3 5
g ------ of the number is 80 h --- of the number is 27 i --- of the number is 25
11 8 6
7 4 11
j ------ of the number is 21 k ------ of the number is 48 l ------ of the number is 66
12 11 12
9 6 8
m ------ of the number is 45 n --- of the number is 54 o ------ of the number is 24
10 7 13

3 5
4 a If --- of a number is 12, find --- of the number.
7 7
2 7
b If --- of a number is 14, find --- of the number.
9 9
4 3
c If ------ of a number is 32, find ------ of the number.
11 11
7 5
d If ------ of a number is 42, find ------ of the number.
12 12

5 Joel paid $18 for a book, which represented 3--4- of the money in his wallet at the time.
How much money was in the wallet before the purchase?
6 A car yard contains only Holdens and Nissans. If 5--8- of the cars in the yard are Holdens and
there are 35 Holdens in the yard, find the total number of cars.
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 151

7 Jennifer lost 4--9- of her money at the casino. If she lost $80, find the amount of money which
she had originally.
8 When Kyle had completed 5--7- of a marathon, he noticed a sign which indicated that the
distance to the finish line was 12 km. Over what distance was the marathon run?

9 In Rosie’s garden, 3--8- of the plants are roses and the rest are wildflowers. If there are
45 wildflowers, find the total number of plants in the garden.

10 Todd emptied the coins in his money box onto a table and found that they were all either
9
20c or 50c coins. If -----
13
- of the coins were 50c coins and the remaining 24 coins were
20c coins, find the total amount of money in the money box.
4
11 Souma and her family live on a farm and raise cattle and sheep. If -----
11
- of animals are cows
and the other 35 animals are sheep, find the total number of animals on the farm.

■ Further applications
12 Charles owned 5--8- of the marbles in a bag and his sister Lorna owned the rest. If Charles gave
3
--- of his marbles to Lorna, he would then only have 16 marbles. How many marbles did
5
each person have originally?
TRY THIS Egyptian fractions
The Egyptians wrote all their fractions so that they had a
numerator of 1. For example, consider the following fractions and
their Egyptian equivalents.
3 1 1
--- = --- + ---
4 4 2
5 1 1
--- = --- + ---
6 3 2
7
-= 1
------ --- + 1
---
12 3 4
Your task is to investigate Egyptian fractions.
To complete this task you should include the following:
1 Change at least 10 fractions to Egyptian form.
2 Is there more than one way of writing a fraction in Egyptian form? If so, give
examples.
3 Can you find a method of changing any fraction to Egyptian form, rather than just
using trial and error?
4 How would you add and multiply fractions given that you are to use Egyptian form,
e.g. try:
3 5 3 5
--- + ---; --- × ---
4 6 4 6
152 Mathscape 7

4.15 Solving problems that

involve fractions
To solve problems which involve fractions:

decide on the operation(s) to be used (i.e. addition, subtraction, multiplication or
division)

perform the appropriate calculations

give the solution in the context of the question.

Example 1
EG Karen spent 2--3- of her pocket money on a movie ticket and 1
--- of her money on a drink. What
+S fraction of her money does Karen have left?
4

Solution
i We first calculate 2 1 ii To find the fraction of her money
--- + ---
the fraction of 3 4 which remains, subtract the fraction
her money which spent from 1 whole.
2×4 1×3
Karen has spent. = --- + --- 11
3×4 4×3 1 − ------
12
8 3
= ------ + ------ 12 11
12 12 = ------ − ------
12 12
11
= ------ 1
12 = ------
12
11 1
∴ Karen has spent ------ of her money. ∴ Karen has ------ of her money left.
12 12

Example 2 Solution
EG The product of two numbers is 4 1--2- . If one of the 5 1 1 5
+S numbers is 2 5--8- , find the other number. If 2 --- × = 4 --- , then = 4 --- ÷ 2 ---
8 2 2 8
1 5 9 21
Now, 4 --- ÷ 2 --- = --- ÷ ------
2 8 2 8
93 8 4
= --- × ------
2 1 21 7
12
= ------
7
5
= 1 ---
7
5
∴ the other number is 1 --- .
7
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 153

Exercise 4.15

1 The petrol tank in Mr Wong’s car holds 40 litres when full. How much petrol is in the tank
7
when it is -----
10
- full?

2 Anthony spends 2--7- of his weekly pay on rent. If he earns $840 p.w., how much does
Anthony pay in rent?
3
3 Bettina is a salesperson who is paid $300 each fortnight plus a commission of ------ of her
11
fortnightly sales. Find Bettina’s total pay for a fortnight when she sells goods worth $4400.
2
4 In a class of 30 students, ---
5
are boys. How many girls are there?

5 Of the 42 employees at a textiles company, 30 belong to the union. What fraction of the
employees:
a are in the union? b are not in the union?

6 Andrew scored 45 out of 75 on his spelling test in Year 6. If there were 75 words on the
test, what fraction of the words did Andrew spell incorrectly?

7 A 2 kg bag of potatoes costs $3.60. How much should a 2 1--2- kg bag cost at the same rate?

8 The local municipal library has 800 books. After the annual stocktake, the librarian found
that 20 of the books were badly damaged and needed to be replaced. What fraction of the
books were to be kept?

■ Consolidation
9 Lionel has $54. He spends $25 on a new shirt and $11 on lunch. What fraction of his money
remains?
5
10 A chef purchased three dozen eggs and used ---
6
of them in making breakfast orders at his
café. How many eggs did the chef use?
11 Greg ate 1--3- of a pizza and Denise ate 3
------
10
of the same pizza.
a Who had the greater share? b What fraction of the pizza remains?

12 A bus is full with 65 passengers on board. At the first stop, 4 people get off and 2 people
get on. At the next stop, 11 people get off and 3 people get on. What fraction of the bus is
full now?
13 The normal retail price of a computer was $1400. During the January sales period the price
tag was marked ‘ 1--8- off’. Find the new retail price of the computer.

14 Thao is given a pay rise equal to 1--6- of her regular weekly pay. If she currently earns
$588 p.w., find Thao’s new weekly pay.
154 Mathscape 7

15 Jane cut a piece of timber into two pieces. If the longer piece is 3 metres long and it exceeds
the length of the shorter piece by 1 1--6- metres, find the length of the shorter piece of timber.
16 A boy spent 1--4- of his pocket money on a new bell for his bicycle and 1
---
6
of his money on a
bar of chocolate.
a What fraction of his pocket money did the boy spend?
b What fraction of his money remains?

17 A footbridge is being constructed from two opposite sides of a river. If 1--3- of the bridge has
been completed on one side and 3--5- of the bridge has been completed on the other side, find
the fraction of the bridge which remains to be built.
9 2
18 The sum of two numbers is 3 -----
10
- . If one of the numbers if 1 --- , find the other number.
5

19 The product of two numbers if 4 1--3- . If one of the numbers is 1 5--8- , find the other number.

20 What must be added to 3 5--6- to give 4 7--8- ?

21 Five plumbers take 1 1--4- hours to repair a broken water pipe. How long would the job take if
only one plumber was available to do the job (assuming they all work at the same rate)?
3
22 How many times can ---
5
be subtracted from 14 2--5- to give zero?

23 From a roll of 10 1--2- metres of material, 2 3--5- metres are sold. What length of material remains?

24 An aeroplane was flying at a speed of 20 km/h. How far would the plane fly in 5 3--4- hours?

25 Alex paid a deposit of $120 towards a stereo. If the deposit is 1--4- of the purchase price, find:
a the cost of the stereo b the balance owing on the purchase
2
26 Seven people shared ---
3
of a lotto prize. What fraction of the money will each person
receive?

■ Further applications
27 After a bad hailstorm, 3--8- of the cars for sale in a dealership were dented by hailstones and a
further 1--6- of the cars had broken windscreens. If there are 72 cars in the dealership, find the
number of cars which can still be sold.

28 If it takes seven men 2 1--2- hours to clean up a street after a New Year’s party, how long
(in hours and minutes) would it take for three men to do the job?
29 Collect some examples of media statements that involve fractions. Determine the
reasonableness of each statement.
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 155

TRY THIS Plus equals times!

You know that
2×2=2+2
This is a special case where
a×b=a+b
Can you find some fractions which give the same result if you add them or multiply
them? For example,
7 7 49 7 7 49
--- × --- = ------- also --- + --- = -------
3 4 12 3 4 12
Can you find a general method of finding all such fractions?

B P ROBLEM SOLVING

1
1 A tank of water started to leak. On the first day, of the water in the tank was lost;
---
4
on the next day, of what was left was lost; and on the third day, 1--2- of the remainder
1
---
3
was lost. What fraction of the tank now contained water?
2 Write an expression equal to 45 which uses 4 fours and any signs of arithmetic
(+, −, ×, ÷) which may be necessary.
3 If we could add all of the numbers 1 + 1--- + 1--- + 1--- … unending, would the total be more
2 4 8
than two? Can you explain your answer?
4 Rearrange the following numbers so that 123
the multiplication is correct. × 4
678
5 Two lines make an angle of 10°. How large will the angle appear if we view it through
a magnifying glass which magnifies things five times?
6 A girl has collected some spiders and beetles in a box. If there are five creatures and a
total of 32 legs, how many of each type are in the box? Spiders have 8 legs and beetles
have 6 legs.
7 Find the missing numbers in this series: 1, 3, 7, …, 31, 63, …, 255.
8 A train is travelling from Melbourne to Sydney at 80 km/h. Another train is travelling
from Sydney to Melbourne at 100 km/h. How far apart are they 1 hour before they
pass each other?
 156 Mathscape 7

9 In the diagram a 9 × 4 rectangle is cut along the dashed line and changed into a
6 × 6 square.

2
3 to 3
4 2 6
2
3 3
2
9
6
M A T H E M A T I C A L L Y

Now how do you change a 16 × 9 rectangle into a square?

10 Mrs Higgins bought some apricots and used half of them for a pudding. She then used
half of the remainder for a pie and had five left. How many apricots did she buy?

0
f\F OC
F O C U S OONR W
US ON W K O
I RK
N GI NM MT
G A AT MA
HHEEM TICALLY
ATICALLY

PRINTING NEWSPAPERS
W O R KI N G

Introduction
F

Here is a fun activity with newspapers. The idea is to explore the way fractions are used for
paper sizes and how newspapers are made.
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 157

2L EARNING ACTIVITIES

Materials needed: A double page of the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) and the Daily
Telegraph (Tele), 2 sheets of A4 and 3 sheets of A3 paper.

T I C A L L Y
The SMH and the Tele are printed on different sized Size Length Breadth
paper. Printers trim pages during production so the
A4 297 210
pages are a little less than standard size. The table
shows common paper sizes used in the printing A3 420 297
industry, showing length and breadth in millimetres. A2 594 420
A1 841 594
A0 1189 841

ICALLY
2A0 1682 1189
4A0 2378 1682

W O R K I N G M A T H HEE MMA TA
1 Take a piece of A4 and a piece of A3 paper. Compare them by placing the A4 on top of the
A3. What do you notice? Measure the length and breadth of each sheet and check your
answers from the table.
2 What is the approximate size of a single page of the SMH? Of the Tele? Try covering the
page of each newspaper with your A4 and/or A3 paper. Check your answers from the table.
3 Now unfold the SMH and the Tele to make a double page. What is the size now? On what

MAT
size paper is the SMH printed? The Tele?
4 Make a drawing of the double page of the SMH to show the way you covered it with A4
and A3. Copy and complete to show the sizes of all the pieces:

FOCUS ON WORKING
A4
 158 Mathscape 7

5 You will have found that A4 is 1--2- of A3. Write down the fraction of A4 to A2, A4 to A1,
A4 to A0, A4 to 2A0, and A4 to 4A0. Record your pattern in order, starting with 1--2- , 1--4- , …
and so on.
6 Suppose this pattern was to continue indefinitely. What do you think might happen if we
add them up? That is 1--2- + 1--4- + 1--8- + -----
16
1
- + … gets closer and closer to what number?
7 If you can, make a drawing of this sequence, starting with your drawing of the double page
L L IY C A L L Y

of the SMH.

8E XTENSION ACTIVITIES

1 Not all sequences of fractions like 1--2- + 1--4- + 1--8- + … work like this. Some just keep getting
bigger and bigger, and some grow more slowly than others. However the sum of the
numbers of this particular sequence do get closer and closer to a number we call a limit.
This is a good word because no matter how many terms you add, you can never go
beyond it.
Now look closely at the sequence 1, 1--3- , 1--9- , -----
1
C AT

2 - , … What is the pattern? Write down the next

27
few terms.
A T IA

3 Investigate 1 + 1--3- + 1--9- + -----

27
1
- + … to see if it approaches a limit. Use your calculator if you like.
4 Here is a sequence which does not approach a limit: 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + … What do you notice
A T H EMM

about it?
5 Make up a sequence which you think might have a limit. Check with your teacher.
ING MATHE

E L ET’S COMMUNICATE

1 Make a display of what you have learned about newspaper sizes used in the print media.
Include what you now know about the paper sizes used for the SMH and the Tele
newspapers.
W O R K I N GW O RM

2 You also learned about a special sequence of fractions, 1--2- , 1--4- , 1--8- , … Write a summary of what
K

you found out in your exercise book. Include a drawing if you wish.

%R EFLECTING
O N

We now know that the limit of the series of fractions 1--2- + 1--4- + 1--8- + … is 1, and consequently, the
limit of the series 1 + 1--2- + 1--4- + 1--8- + … is 2.
FOCUS

However not all patterns of fractions have limits. Remember this! A real surprise is that
1 + 1--2- + 1--3- + 1--4- + 1--5- + … gets bigger and bigger, slowly but surely, as we keep adding more and
more terms. Consider this and chat about it with your teacher.
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 159

1 Define the phrase proper fraction. 5 Read the Macquarie Learners’ Dictionary
2 Compare the meaning of numerator with entry for fracture:
denominator.
3 Consider the words equal and value. If fracture verb 1. to crack or break; to fall over and
you put them together, what maths word fracture your arm | The rock fractured when we hit it.
are you reminded of from this chapter? –noun 2. a break or breaking, especially of a bone:
He was treated for cuts and fractures after the accident.
4 Where does the word fraction come from?
What does the word fracture have in common
with fraction?

6
1 What fraction has been shaded in each 5 a Express -----
- as a division.
11
figure? b Express 2 ÷ 5 as a fraction.
a 6 How many:

VIEW
a halves are there in 3 wholes?
b quarters are there in 5 wholes?
7 State whether each of these is a mixed
numeral, a proper fraction or an improper
b c fraction.
3 9 6

CHAPTER RE
a --- b --- c 2 ---
8 4 7
8 Express as improper fractions:
1 3 5 7
2 Write the fraction that has a denominator a 1 --- b 2 --- c 4 --- d 7 ---
3 4 8 9
of 11 and a numerator of 7.
9 Express as mixed numerals:
3 Write as a fraction:
a one-quarter b three-eighths 7 14 22 41
a --- b ------ c ------ d ------
c thirteen-twelfths 2 3 9 12
4 If the Hawks basketball team won 3--5- of
their games last season, what fraction of
their games did they lose?

CHAPTER REVIEW
 160 Mathscape 7
CHAPTER RE

10 Complete each of these equivalent 16 State in simplest form, the fraction, whole
fractions. number or mixed numeral represented by
1 2 A, B and C on each number line.
a --- = ------ b --- = ------
3 12 5 10 a
0 A B 1 C
4 8
c --- = ------ d --- = ------
7 35 9 63 b
3 A 4 B 5 C
3 6 15
e ----- = --- f ------ = ------
8 12 36 c
C 7 A 8 B 9
8 48 4
g ------ = ------ h 1 --- = ------
11 5 25 d
C 1 A B 4
11 Simplify:
5 3 10 15 17 In simplest form, what fraction is:
a ------ b ------ c ------ d ------
20 18 12 18 a 7 of 21?
21 16 42 84 b 12 of 16?
e ------ f ------ g ------ h --------- c $9 of $15?
28 36 48 108
VIEW

d 25 mins of 1 hour?
12 Simplify: e 8 months of 2 years?
40 2700 240 f 25 mm of 3 1--2- cm?
a --------- b ------------ c ---------
150 3300 150
18 Write answers only for each of these.
13 Insert ⬍ or ⬎ to make a true statement: 2 2 4
5 3 7 5 a 3 + --- b --- + ---
a --- --- b --- --- 5 7 7
3 5 9 6 3 3 5 4
c --- − --- d --- + ---
14 Arrange these fractions in ascending 4 4 9 9
order by first expressing them with a 3 3 1
common denominator. e 4 ------ − 4 f 1 --- + 2 ---
10 5 5
11 5 17 3 7
a ------ , --- , ------ , --- , ------ 2 2 2 1
18 9 36 4 12 g 9 --- − 1 --- h 6 --- + 4 ---
5 5 3 3
3 1 2 19 9
b --- , --- , --- , ------ , ------ 19 Simplify:
8 2 5 40 20
5 1 13 4
15 Arrange these fractions in ascending a --- + --- b ------ − ------
8 8 15 15
order by inspection.
1 5 23 7
99 13 1 5 c 5 ------ + 2 ------ d 2 ------ − 1 ------
a --------- , ------ , ------ , --- 12 12 24 24
100 12 22 8
7 4 16 8
9 2 19 17 e ------ + ------ f ------ + ------
b --- , ------ , ------ , ------ 10 10 21 21
8 23 40 18

CHAPTER REVIEW
 Chapter 4: Fract io n s 161

20 Evaluate:

VIEW
4 8 31 9
e --- ÷ ------ f 1 ------ ÷ 1 ------
3 3 5 25 32 40
a 1 − ------ b 7 − ---
10 4 25 Find:
2 4 13 1 3
c 4 − 1 --- d 8 ------ − 3 ------ a --- of $6 b --- of 2 min
5 15 15 4 5
21 Evaluate: 7 11 1
c ------ of 3 m d ------ of 1 --- kg

CHAPTER RE
1 1 11 1 20 50 2
a --- + --- b ------ − ---
2 4 12 3 26 Find the number if:
2 4 4 2 1
c --- + ------ d --- − --- a --- of the number is 4
7 21 5 3 3
3 1 2 5 1
e --- + --- f --- + --- b --- of the number is 9
4 6 3 8 5
11 1 3 9 3
g 4 ------ − 2 --- h 3 --- + 2 ------ c --- of the number is 15
12 4 4 10 4
22 Evaluate: 4
d --- of the number is 24
1 5 1 7
a --- × --- b 11 × ---
6 8 3 27 a In a class of 32 students, 3--8- are girls.
3 15 8 How many boys are there?
c 1 --- × 3 d ------ × ---
4 16 9 b Tina scored 15 goals from her
25 28 1 1 21 attempts in last week’s basketball
e ------ × ------ f 1 ------ × 1 ------
49 45 14 20 game. What fraction of her shots were
23 Find the reciprocal of: unsuccessful?
5 3 c The sum of two numbers is 7 17 ------ .
30
a --- b 6 c 2 --- 2---
If one of the numbers is 3 5 , what is
7 4
the other number?
24 Evaluate:
d An outdoor table setting was
4 1 3 advertised as ‘ 1--6- off the marked
a ------ ÷ --- b --- ÷ 5
13 2 8 price’. If the marked price was $378,
2 1 15 20 find the discounted sale price.
c --- ÷ 1 --- d ------ ÷ ------
9 4 28 21

CHAPTER REVIEW