Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers

Axel and Tank received a postcard from their friend. "Wow Axel, check out all that snow!" "What's this?" "It looks like a recipe to make our own snow!" "Cool (...) except the ingredients are written as these special fractions!" "That can't be proper!" Let's learn about, "Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers," so we can help Axel and Tank make snow! An improper fraction, is a fraction with a numerator that is GREATER THAN (...) the denominator. We can convert, or change, improper fractions into mixed numbers so they are easier to understand. A mixed number is a combination of a WHOLE NUMBER and a FRACTION. Let's see how to convert seven-thirds into a mixed number. The first step is to represent seven-thirds using fraction bars like THIS. Fraction bars help us because it is a visual model of our fraction. Each whole is broken up into THIRDS to match our DENOMINATOR... and we need to shade in SEVEN PARTS to match our NUMERATOR. This fraction bar has three parts (...) since we need to shade more than just three, we need another fraction bar. Now we have six parts, but we need to shade in seven parts... so we need one more fraction bar in order to represent all seven parts. The second step is to count how many WHOLES we have shaded in. Since two fraction bars have ALL parts shaded in, our whole is TWO. Finally, record the remaining part as a fraction (...) which is one-third. Seven-thirds written as a mixed number is TWO and ONE-THIRD. Now that we know how to convert an improper fraction to a mixed number, let's help Axel and Tank make snow! First, they need five-fourths cups of baking soda. You can see it's an IMPROPER FRACTION because the numerator is greater than the denominator. What is the first step to convert to a mixed number? (...) The first step is to represent five-fourths using fraction bars... so we need to shade in five parts (...) because the NUMERATOR is five. The second step is to count how many WHOLES are shaded in. How many wholes are shaded in? (...) There is one WHOLE fraction bar shaded in, so we write our whole (...) ONE. What is the third step? (...) The third step is to record the remaining fraction. What is the remaining fraction? (...) One-fourth, so Axel and Tank need ONE and ONE-FOURTH cups of baking soda. Last, they need nine-sixths cups of shaving cream. What is the first step to convert to a mixed number? (...) Represent nine-sixths using fraction bars. What is the next step? (...) Count how many WHOLES we have shaded in(...) how many wholes are shaded in? (...) One whole is shaded in (...) what is the last step? Write the remaining fraction. (...) The remaining fraction is three-sixths. What do you notice about three-sixths? (...) Three-sixths is not written in simplest form. Remember, we simplify fractions with MANY PARTS into fractions with FEWER PARTS to make them easier to understand. What is three-sixths in simplest form?(...) Three-sixths in simplest form is one-half (...) we know this because HALF of the fraction bar is shaded! The whole number stays the same so... Axel and Tank need ONE and ONE-HALF cups of shaving cream. Before we see how the snow turned out, let's summarize. Remember (...) an improper fraction is a fraction with a numerator that is GREATER THAN the denominator. A mixed number is a combination of a WHOLE NUMBER and a FRACTION. The first step is to represent the improper fraction using fraction bars. The second step is to record how many wholes are shaded in. Last, we record the remaining fraction and simplify as needed. Let's see how the snow recipe turned out! "Okay, I added all the ingredients!" "Axel! What did I tell you about forgetting your glasses (...) I don't think you measured this right!"