Fractions

                                     Fractions

Basic Facts:      3      Counted parts
                     4       Total parts

* Numerator is the top number and represents the counted parts
* Denominator is the bottom number and it represents the total parts

* The denominator is the most important part of a fraction because it tell you the total parts that the object is divided in to.
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* You can easily determine how big a fraction is by comparing the numerator to the denominator.   By comparing the numerator and the denominator you can tell whether the fraction is closer to zero, closer to a half or closer to a whole.

* If your counted parts is very close to your total parts then it's almost a whole number

* If your counted parts is exactly half or close to half of the total parts then your fraction is closer to a half.

* If your counted parts less than half of your total parts then your fraction is closer to zero.
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Comparing Fractions :  3 Ways

1.  If the denominators are the same, compare the numerators as if they were whole numbers   3 <   5
    3 is less than 5
                              8       8
 
2. If the numerators are the same, compare the denominators the opposite  way of whole numbers     4 >
                                  6     8
This is true because 6 < 8 so you do the opposite.

3.  Cross multiplication:         12      >  1     6
                                             6        4

This is done by starting at the bottom of the first fraction, say 6 and multiplying by the second fractions numerator, say then putting the answer  above the 1. Next you multiply the denominator of the second fraction by the numerator of the first fraction  4 x 3 and put the answer above that numerator.  Finally you compare the answers of 12 and the 6 and since 12 > 6   3/6 is greater than 1/4.