LESSON: Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

READ: Rewrite Improper Fractions as Mixed Numbers

Rewrite Improper Fractions as Mixed Numbers

We just learned how to write a mixed number as an improper fraction. We can also work the other way around too, we can write improper fractions as mixed numbers.

How do you write an improper fraction as a mixed number?

First, remember that when you write an improper fraction as a mixed number, that you are converting a fraction in all parts to wholes and parts.

Example

$\frac{18}{4}$

If I have eighteen-fourths, I have eighteen parts and the whole has only been divided into 4 parts. This means that $\frac{4}{4}$ would be considered a whole.

When the numerator is larger than the denominator, you know that you have more than one whole. To change an improper fraction to a mixed number, divide the denominator into the numerator. This will tell you the number of wholes. If there are any left over, this tells you the fraction part.

18 $\div$ 4 $=$ 4

But there are 2 left over because 4 $\times$ 4 = 16 and our numerator is 18. The left over part becomes the numerator over the original denominator.

Our answer is $4 \frac{2}{4}$ .

Our answer is $4 \frac{1}{2}$ .

Sometimes, you will have an improper fraction that converts to a whole number and not a mixed number.

Example

$\frac{18}{9}$

Here eighteen divided by 9 is 2. There isn’t a remainder, so there isn’t a fraction. This improper fraction converts to a whole number.

Our answer is 2.