Fractions are simply one number over another number. They are a way to express decimal numbers between 0 and 1. To find the value, just divide the numerator (top number) by the denominator (bottom number). For example:
[tex] \frac{1}{2} [/tex] is the fraction one-half. It has a value of 0.5.
Mixed numbers are similar to fractions, however they also have an integer element in addition to the fraction.They are used to express numbers that have a decimal in them, but that can be larger than 1. For example:
[tex]1 \frac{1}{2} [/tex] is a mixed number that represents 1.5. It is the whole number 1 added to the fraction one-half.
Another type of fraction is the improper fraction. It is how you write a mixed number as a single fraction. To write an improper fraction, multiply the denominator of the fraction by the whole number, then add the numerator. The improper fraction is this result over the same denominator. For example:
3[tex]1 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{7}{2} [/tex]
The mixed number is converted to an improper fraction by multiplying the 3 and 2, then adding 1. The result of 7 is divided by 2.
