Basic Fractions & Decimals explained through a friendly whiteboard conversation, examples, visuals, and practice for school students.
Step 1
Notes
Step 2
Formulae
Step 3
Examples
Step 4
Practice
Revise the definition, formulae, important results, and exam method first.
Use the sticky diagram while this dedicated tool is being prepared.
Solve only this concept and let the app adapt from your answers.
You have met the idea. Now open a tiny puzzle, a useful fact, and the next best action.
Continue the journey
Fractions and decimals both show parts of a whole.
They are used in money, measurement, percentages, ratio, probability, and daily calculations.
This lesson builds the meaning first, then shows how to compare and convert them.
A fraction is meaningful only when the whole is split into equal parts.
The denominator tells how many equal parts make the whole. The numerator tells how many parts are selected.
Decimals use place value after the decimal point. Tenths, hundredths, and thousandths are common decimal places.
Fractions and decimals can often show the same value. For example, .5.
Meaning: A fraction shows part of a whole or part of a group.
Definition: A fraction has a numerator and a denominator.
In , the whole is split into 5 equal parts and 3 parts are selected.
Meaning: Fractions can be grouped by the size of numerator and denominator.
Definition: Proper fraction: numerator is smaller. Improper fraction: numerator is equal to or greater than denominator. Mixed fraction: whole number plus a fraction.
is proper. is improper. 1 is mixed.
Meaning: Equivalent fractions have the same value.
Definition: Multiply or divide numerator and denominator by the same noero number.
. They look different but represent the same amount.
Meaning: Decimals show parts using tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and more.
Definition: A decimal is a number written with a decimal point.
0.47 means 4 tenths and 7 hundredths, which is .
Meaning: Conversion changes the form without changing the value.
Definition: To convert a fraction to a decimal, divide numerator by denominator.
divided by .75. To convert 0.75 to a fraction, write and simplify to .
Easy
Question: Write 0.45 as a fraction in simplest form.
Medium
Question: Compare and .
Exam-level
Question: A class has 40 students. of them joined a maths activity. How many students joined?
Adding denominators
Why it happens: Students treat numerator and denominator as separate whole numbers.
Correct approach: Use common denominators before adding or comparing fractions.
Comparing only denominators
Why it happens: A larger denominator looks like a larger number.
Correct approach: Compare values using common denominators, decimals, or visual models.
Forgetting decimal place value
Why it happens: Digits after the decimal point are read too quickly.
Correct approach: Name tenths, hundredths, and thousandths before converting.
Is a bigger denominator always a bigger fraction?
No. If the numerator is the same, a bigger denominator means smaller equal parts.
Why must fraction parts be equal?
Unequal parts do not make a fair fraction of one whole.
Can every fraction become a decimal?
Yes. The decimal may end or repeat.
Practise the same concept from this article. Your student profile may guide entitlement and follop recommendations, but it does not replace this concept.