GCSE Maths · Fractions · Foundation · Summary
GCSE Maths Fractions (Foundation): summary and key words
Part of the GCSE Maths fractions chapter (Foundation). Chapter overview · Higher version of this lesson · whole chapter on one page
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Equivalent fractions | Multiply or divide top and bottom by the same number |
| Simplify | Divide top and bottom by their HCF |
| Compare / order | Common denominator (LCM), then compare numerators |
| Mixed ↔ improper | Divide with remainder / (whole × denominator) + numerator |
| Add / subtract | Common denominator, then add or subtract numerators only |
| Multiply | Top × top, bottom × bottom (cancel first) |
| Divide | Keep, change, flip: multiply by the reciprocal |
| Fraction of an amount | Divide by denominator, multiply by numerator |
| Find the whole | Divide by numerator, multiply by denominator |
| Fraction → decimal / % | Numerator ÷ denominator / make denominator 100 |
Can you…?
- I can name the numerator and denominator and say what they mean.
- I can find equivalent fractions and simplify fractions.
- I can order fractions using a common denominator.
- I can change between mixed numbers and improper fractions.
- I can add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers.
- I can multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers.
- I can find a fraction of an amount and find the whole from a fraction.
- I can change between fractions, decimals and percentages.
Key terms
- Common denominator
- A denominator that is the same for two or more fractions; the LCM of the denominators is the smallest one.
- Denominator
- The bottom number of a fraction: the number of equal parts the whole is split into.
- Equivalent fractions
- Fractions that have the same value, for example 1/2 and 2/4.
- Improper fraction
- A fraction whose numerator is greater than or equal to its denominator.
- Mixed number
- A number made of a whole number and a proper fraction.
- Numerator
- The top number of a fraction: how many parts are taken.
- Proper fraction
- A fraction less than 1: the numerator is smaller than the denominator.
- Reciprocal
- A fraction turned upside down. A number multiplied by its reciprocal is 1.
- Simplest form
- A fraction where the numerator and denominator have no common factor except 1.
- Unit fraction
- A fraction with a numerator of 1.