CHAPTER SEVEN

FRACTIONS

Specific Objectives
By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

a.) Identify proper and improper fractions and mixed number.

b.) Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and vice versa.
c.) Compare fractions;
d.) Perform the four basic operations on fractions.
e.) Carry out combined operations on fractions in the correct order.
f.) Apply the knowledge of fractions to real life situations.
Content
a.) Fractions
b.) Proper, improper fractions and mixed numbers.
c.) Conversion of improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice versa.
d.) Comparing fractions.
e.) Operations on fractions.
f.) Order of operations on fractions
g.) Word problems involving fractions in real life situations.

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Introduction
A fraction is written in the form 𝑎 where a and b are numbers and b is
not equal to 0.The upper number is

𝑏
called the numerator and the lower number is the denominator.

𝑎 → 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟

𝑏 → 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟

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Proper fraction
In proper fraction the numerator is smaller than the denominator. E.g.

2 1
,

3 4

Improper fraction
The numerator is bigger than or equal to denominator. E.g.

7 15 9
, ,
3 6 2

Mixed fraction
An improper fraction written as the sum of an integer and a proper
fraction. For example

=2+

= 2

Changing a Mixed Number to an Improper Fraction

3
 Mixed number – 4 (contains a whole number and a
fraction)

Improper fraction - (numerator is larger than denominator)

Step 1 – Multiply the denominator and the whole number

Step 2 – Add this answer to the numerator; this becomes

the new numerator Step 3 – Carry the original
denominator over

Example

3 = 3 × 8 + 1 = 25

Example

4 = 4 × 9 + 4 = 40
4
 =

Changing an Improper Fraction to a Mixed Number

Step 1– Divide the numerator by the denominator

Step 2– The answer from step 1 becomes the whole number

Step 3– The remainder becomes the new numerator

Step 4– The original denominator carries over

Example

= 47 ÷ 5 or

9
5 47 = 5 47 = 9
45

5
 2

Example
4
= 29 = 29 =4½

8
1

Comparing Fractions

When comparing fractions, they are first converted into their equivalent
forms using the same denominator.

Equivalent Fractions
To get the equivalent fractions, we multiply or divide the numerator and
denominator of a given fraction by the same number. When the fraction
has no factor in common other than 1, the fraction is said to be in its
simplest form.

Example
Arrange the following fractions in ascending order (from the smallest
to the biggest):

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 1/2 1 /4 5/6 2/3

Step 1: Change all the fractions to the same denominator.

Step 2: In this case we will use 12 because 2, 4, 6, and3 all go into i.e.
We get 12 by finding the L.C.M of the denominators. To get the
equivalent fractions divide the denominator by the L.C.M and then
multiply both the numerator and denominator by the answer,

For ½ we divide 12 ÷ 2 = 6, then multiply both the numerator and

denominator by 6 as shown below.

1 x6 1x3 5 x2 2 x4

2 x6 4 x3 6 x2 3 x4

Step3: The fractions will now be:

6/12 3/12 10/12 8/12

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 Step 4: Now put your fractions in order (smallest to biggest.)

3/12 6/12 8/12 10/12

Step 5: Change back, keeping them in order.

1/4 1/2 2/3 5/6

You can also use percentages to compare fractions as shown below.

Example
Arrange the following in descending order (from the biggest)

5/12 7 /3 11/5 9 /4

Solution
X 100 = 41.67%

X 100 = 233.3%

X 100 = 220%

X 100 = 225%
7/3, 9/4, 11/5, 5/12
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Operation on Fractions
Addition and Subtraction

The numerators of fractions whose denominators are equal can be added

or subtracted directly.

Example
2/7 + 3/7 = 5/7

6/8 – 5/8 = 1/8

When adding or subtracting numbers with different denominators like:

5/4 + 3 /6=?

2/5 – 2/7 =?

Step 1– Find a common denominator (a number that both denominators

will go into or L.C.M)

Step 2– Divide the denominator of each fraction by the common

denominator or L.C.M and then multiply the answers by the numerator
of each fraction
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Step 3– Add or subtract the numerators as indicated by the operation
sign

Step 4 – Change the answer to lowest terms

Example

+ = Common denominator is 8 because both 2 and 8 will go into

8

+ =

Which simplifies to 1

Example

4 – = Common denominator is 20 because both 4 and 5 will go

into 20

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 4 = 4

– =

Or

4 – =4 =4

Mixed numbers can be added or subtracted easily by first expressing

them as improper fractions.

Examples
5 +1

Solution
52 + 1 4 =5++1+

3 5

2 4

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 = (5 + 1) + +
3 5

=6+

=6+

=6+1 =7

Example
−2
Evaluate + −1

3 5 Solution
−2 −1 −16 − 3−19
+ = = 3 5 24 24

Multiplying Simple Fractions

Step 1– Multiply the numerators

Step 2– Multiply the denominators

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Step 3– Reduce the answer to lowest terms by dividing by common
divisors

Example

× = which reduces to

Multiplying Mixed Numbers

Step 1– Convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions first

Step 2– Multiply the numerators

Step 3– Multiply the denominators

Step 4– Reduce the answer to lowest terms

Example

2 ×1 = × =

Which then reduces to 3

Note:

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When opposing numerators and denominators are divisible by a
common number, you may reduce the numerator and denominator
before multiplying. In the above example, after converting the mixed
numbers to improper fractions, you will see that the 3 in the numerator
and the opposing 3 in the denominator could have been reduced by
dividing both numbers by 3, resulting in the following reduced fraction:

7 31 7 1
× = = 3

13 2 2 2

Dividing Simple Fractions

Step 1– Change division sign to multiplication

Step 2– Change the fraction following the multiplication sign to its

reciprocal (rotate the fraction around so the old denominator is the new
numerator and the old numerator is the new denominator)

Step 3- Multiply the numerators

Step 4– Multiply the denominators

Step 5– simplify the answer to lowest terms

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Example

÷ = becomes × which when solved is

Dividing Mixed Numbers

Step 1 – Convert the mixed number or numbers to improper fraction.

Step 2 – Change the division sign to multiplication.

Step 3– Change the fraction following the multiplication sign to its

reciprocal (flip the fraction around so the old denominator is the new
numerator and the old numerator is the new denominator) Step 4-
Multiply the numerators.
Step 5– Multiply the denominators.

Step 6– Simplify the answer to lowest form.

Example

3 ÷ 2 = becomes ÷ becomes × =

15
 63
Which when solved is × 17 = which simplifies to 1

Order of operations on Fractions

The same rules that apply on integers are the same for fractions

BODMAS

Example
15 ÷ 𝑜𝑓 12 = 15 ÷ ( 𝑥 12)(we start with of then division)

= 15 ÷ 3

=5

Example
+ 𝑥 { + ( − )} =

Solution
1/3 – 1/4 = 4−1 = 1 (we start with bracket)
12 12

{ + } = (We then work out the outer bracket)

1 11
1 11
+ 𝑥 = +(We then work out the multiplication)
2 48

6 48
16
 11 19
+ =(Addition comes last here)
48 48

Example
1 1
+
2 3 +½
Evaluate 12 1

𝑜𝑓 ( − )
7 56

Solution
1 +
1
3
2 2 1
5 6
We first work out this first 1

𝑜𝑓 ( − )
7
17
 1 1 3+2 5
+ = =
2 3 6 6
2 1 1 7
1 𝑜𝑓 ( − )=
𝑥 =
5 6 7 30 30

× 30 = 25
1 1
+
3
2 + ½ = 25 + ½
Therefore12 1
𝑜𝑓 ( − )
7 56

= 25 ½

Note:
Operations on fractions are performed in the following order.
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 ฀ Perform the operation enclosed within the bracket first.
฀ If (of) appears, perform that operation before any other.

Example
Evaluate: 1 {3 + ( − ) 𝑜𝑓 1 ÷ 5}=

25

Solution
=

1 3 1 40
{ + ()𝑜𝑓 1 ÷ 5}
2 5 4 21
1 31 40 3
= { + 𝑥 𝑥 ÷ 5}
2 54 21 2

=1 (3 + 𝑥 ÷ 5)
2 5

= 1 (3 + )
25
19
=1 (21+5) =
𝑥=
2 35

Example
Two pipes A and B can fill an empty tank in 3hrs and 5hrs
respectively. Pipe C can empty the tank in 4hrs. If the three pipes A, B
and C are opened at the same time find how long it will take for the
tank to be full.

Solution
1/3 +1/5 -1/4 = 20+12-15
60

= 17/60

17/60=1hr

1= 1 x 60/17 60/17 =
3.5294118 = 3.529 hrs.

End of topic

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 Did you understand everything?
If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you
understand before going to sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic

1. Evaluate without using a calculator.

13−5 2

78 3

+1 of 2

2. A two digit number is such that the sum of the ones and the tens
digit is ten. If the digits are reversed, the new number formed
exceeds the original number by 54.

Find the number.

3 of 73 − 1 11 + 31 22
3. Evaluate 8 53 4 3 5
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 ••
4. Convert the recurring decimal l2.18 into fraction

5. Simplify (0.00243)− (0.0009) without using tables or calculator

6. Evaluate without using tables or calculators

of 80 −

−2 5+(14 7) 3
7. Mr. Saidi keeps turkeys and chickens. The number of turkeys
exceeds the number of chickens by 6. During an outbreak of a
disease, ¼ of the chicken and 1/3 of the turkeys died. If he lost total
of 30 birds, how many birds did he have altogether?

9. Work out

10. Evaluate -4 of (-4 + -5 15) + -3 – 4 2)

84 -7 + 3 - -5
•
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11. Write the recurring decimal 0.3Can as Fraction

5 15 of 4 −3
12. Evaluate 6 3 6
without using a calculator.

+1 2

13. Without using tables or calculators evaluate.

14. Without using tables or calculator, evaluate the following.

8 + (-13) x 3 – (-5)
-

-
1 + (-6) ÷ 2 x 2

. ..

15. Express 1.93+ 0.25 as a single fraction

16. Simplify ½ of 3½ + 1½ (2½ - 2/3)

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 ¾ of 2½ ½

17. Evaluate:
2
/5 ½ of 4/9 – 11/10

1/8 – 1/6 of 3/8

18. Without using a calculator or table, work out the following leaving
the answer as a mixed number in its simplest form:-

¾ + 12/7 ÷ 3/7 of 21/3

(9/7-3/8) x 2/3

19. Work out the following, giving the answer as a mixed number in
its simplest form.

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 2
/5 ½ of 4/9 – 1 1/10

1/8 – 1/16 x 3/8

20. Evaluate;

3
/8 of 73/5 – 1/3 1¼ + 31/3 x 22/5

23. Without using a calculator, evaluate:

14/5 of 25/18 12/3 x 24

21/3 – ¼ of 12 5
/3 leaving the answer as a fraction in its simplest
form

24. There was a fund-raising in Matisse high school. One seventh of

the money that was raised was used to construct a teacher’s house

25
 and two thirds of the remaining money was used to construct
classrooms. If
shs.300, 000 remained, how much money was raised

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