Fractions (Grade 4)
A fraction represents a part of a whole. When you cut a roti into 4 equal pieces and eat 1 piece, you have eaten 1/4 (one-fourth) of the roti. In Class 4, you will learn about different types of fractions and how to work with them.
Fractions have two parts: the numerator (top number) tells how many parts are taken, and the denominator (bottom number) tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into.
What is Fractions - Class 4 Maths (Fractions)?
A fraction is a number that represents a part of a whole. It is written as:
Numerator / Denominator
The numerator is the number above the line. It tells how many parts are taken.
The denominator is the number below the line. It tells the total number of equal parts.
Example: In 3/5, the numerator is 3 and the denominator is 5. It means 3 parts out of 5 equal parts.
Types and Properties
- Proper Fraction: The numerator is less than the denominator. Examples: 1/2, 3/4, 5/8. A proper fraction is always less than 1.
- Improper Fraction: The numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator. Examples: 5/3, 7/4, 9/9. An improper fraction is equal to or greater than 1.
- Mixed Number: A combination of a whole number and a proper fraction. Examples: 1 1/2, 2 3/4, 3 1/5.
- Unit Fraction: A fraction with numerator 1. Examples: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/10.
- Like Fractions: Fractions with the same denominator. Examples: 2/7 and 5/7.
- Unlike Fractions: Fractions with different denominators. Examples: 1/3 and 2/5.
Solved Examples
Example 1: Example 1: Identify Numerator and Denominator
Problem: In the fraction 5/8, identify the numerator and denominator.
Solution:
Step 1: The number above the line is the numerator = 5.
Step 2: The number below the line is the denominator = 8.
Answer: Numerator = 5, Denominator = 8. It means 5 parts out of 8 equal parts.
Example 2: Example 2: Classify as Proper or Improper
Problem: Classify these fractions as proper or improper: 3/7, 9/4, 5/5, 2/11.
Solution:
- 3/7: numerator (3) < denominator (7) → Proper
- 9/4: numerator (9) > denominator (4) → Improper
- 5/5: numerator (5) = denominator (5) → Improper (equals 1)
- 2/11: numerator (2) < denominator (11) → Proper
Answer: Proper: 3/7, 2/11. Improper: 9/4, 5/5.
Example 3: Example 3: Fraction of a Whole
Problem: A pizza is cut into 6 equal slices. Ria ate 2 slices. What fraction of the pizza did she eat?
Solution:
Step 1: Total slices = 6 (denominator).
Step 2: Slices eaten = 2 (numerator).
Answer: Ria ate 2/6 of the pizza (which simplifies to 1/3).
Example 4: Example 4: Identify Like and Unlike Fractions
Problem: Which of these are like fractions? 2/9, 5/9, 3/7, 4/9.
Solution:
Step 1: Like fractions have the same denominator.
Step 2: 2/9, 5/9, and 4/9 all have denominator 9. → Like fractions
Step 3: 3/7 has denominator 7. → Unlike (different from the others).
Answer: 2/9, 5/9, and 4/9 are like fractions. 3/7 is unlike the others.
Example 5: Example 5: Fraction on a Number Line
Problem: Mark 3/4 on a number line from 0 to 1.
Solution:
Step 1: Divide the line segment from 0 to 1 into 4 equal parts.
Step 2: Each part = 1/4.
Step 3: Count 3 parts from 0.
0 — 1/4 — 2/4 — 3/4 — 1
Answer: 3/4 is at the third mark when the segment is divided into 4 equal parts.
Example 6: Example 6: Fraction of a Group
Problem: Dev has 15 marbles. 1/3 of them are blue. How many blue marbles does he have?
Solution:
Step 1: Total marbles = 15.
Step 2: 1/3 of 15 = 15 ÷ 3 = 5.
Answer: Dev has 5 blue marbles.
Example 7: Example 7: Unit Fractions
Problem: Arrange these unit fractions from smallest to largest: 1/2, 1/5, 1/3, 1/8.
Solution:
Step 1: In unit fractions, the larger the denominator, the smaller the fraction.
Step 2: Denominators: 8, 5, 3, 2 (from largest to smallest).
Step 3: So the order from smallest to largest is: 1/8, 1/5, 1/3, 1/2.
Answer: 1/8 < 1/5 < 1/3 < 1/2
Example 8: Example 8: Word Problem
Problem: Neha spent 3/8 of her pocket money on books. What fraction did she not spend on books?
Solution:
Step 1: Total pocket money = 1 whole = 8/8.
Step 2: Amount spent on books = 3/8.
Step 3: Amount not spent = 8/8 − 3/8 = 5/8.
Answer: Neha did not spend 5/8 of her pocket money on books.
Example 9: Example 9: Converting Improper Fraction to Mixed Number
Problem: Convert 11/4 to a mixed number.
Solution:
Step 1: Divide 11 by 4. Quotient = 2, Remainder = 3.
Step 2: Mixed number = Quotient and Remainder/Denominator = 2 3/4.
Answer: 11/4 = 2 3/4
Key Points to Remember
- A fraction = Numerator / Denominator, representing part of a whole.
- Proper fraction: numerator < denominator (value < 1).
- Improper fraction: numerator ≥ denominator (value ≥ 1).
- Mixed number = whole number + proper fraction.
- Unit fraction: numerator is 1. Larger denominator means smaller fraction.
- Like fractions have the same denominator. Unlike fractions have different denominators.
- The denominator can never be 0.
Practice Problems
- Write the fraction for: 7 parts out of 12 equal parts.
- Classify as proper, improper, or mixed: 4/9, 13/5, 3 2/7, 6/6.
- Aditi ate 3 slices of a cake that was cut into 8 equal slices. What fraction of the cake is left?
- Arrange from smallest to largest: 1/6, 1/2, 1/4, 1/9.
- Find 1/4 of 24.
- Rahul read 2/5 of a book. What fraction is still left to read?
- Convert 17/5 to a mixed number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is a fraction?
A fraction is a number that represents a part of a whole. It is written as numerator over denominator, like 3/4, which means 3 parts out of 4 equal parts.
Q2. What is the difference between proper and improper fractions?
In a proper fraction, the numerator is less than the denominator (like 2/5), so it is less than 1. In an improper fraction, the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator (like 7/3), so it is 1 or more.
Q3. Can the denominator be zero?
No. The denominator can never be zero because division by zero is not defined. A fraction with denominator 0 has no meaning.
Q4. What is a unit fraction?
A unit fraction has 1 as its numerator. Examples: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/10. Among unit fractions, the one with the larger denominator is smaller.
Q5. What are like and unlike fractions?
Like fractions have the same denominator (e.g., 2/7 and 5/7). Unlike fractions have different denominators (e.g., 1/3 and 2/5). To add unlike fractions, you first convert them to like fractions.
Q6. How do you find a fraction of a number?
Divide the number by the denominator, then multiply by the numerator. For example, 3/4 of 20: first 20 / 4 = 5, then 5 x 3 = 15.
Q7. How do you convert an improper fraction to a mixed number?
Divide the numerator by the denominator. The quotient is the whole number part. The remainder becomes the new numerator over the same denominator. Example: 11/4 = 2 remainder 3 = 2 3/4.
Q8. What is a fraction equal to 1?
Any fraction where the numerator equals the denominator is equal to 1. Examples: 3/3 = 1, 7/7 = 1, 100/100 = 1.
Q9. Is this topic in the NCERT Class 4 syllabus?
Yes. Fractions are a major chapter in Class 4 NCERT Maths. Students learn about types of fractions, fractions on a number line, equivalent fractions, and basic operations with fractions.
Related Topics
- Introduction to Fractions
- Equivalent Fractions (Grade 4)
- Simplifying Fractions
- Comparing Fractions (Grade 4)
- Ordering Fractions
- Addition of Fractions (Grade 4)
- Subtraction of Fractions (Grade 4)
- Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions
- Fraction Word Problems (Grade 4)
- Fractions on a Number Line (Grade 4)
- Proper and Improper Fractions
- Fraction of a Number (Grade 4)
