Fractions Introduction: Simple Fractions

The following example shows you what 1/2 is:

The whole is divided into two parts because 2 is the denominator (bottom). We want one of these parts because 1 is the numerator (top).

Here is 3/4:

The whole is divided into four parts because 4 is the denominator (bottom). We want three of these parts because 3 is the numerator (top).

Sometimes you will see the number 1 written in fraction form even though 1 is a whole number: 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, and so on. For example, here is 6/6 written in fraction form although it isn't a fraction:

The whole is divided into six parts because 6 is the denominator (bottom). We want six of these parts - all of them - because 6 is also the numerator (top).

On the following page you will see many examples of simple fractions.

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