Step-by-step Maths Level 5: Totals greater than one
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 5 adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Totals greater than one
When the top number is bigger than the bottom number, the total is more than one whole. 5/4 is 4/4 and 1/4, so it is 1 1/4.
Write the whole ones first, then the fraction that is left.
Key ideas
- A top number bigger than the bottom means more than one whole.
- Write the whole ones, then the fraction left over.
- Simplify the fraction part if you can.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.3 + 2 = 5
- Write the total. 5 parts of size 1/4.5/4
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/4 left over.5/4 = 1 1/4
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/4
Check. Check: 1 1/4 is more than 1, as 5/4 is more than 4/4.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.3 + 4 = 7
- Write the total. 7 parts of size 1/5.7/5
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 2/5 left over.7/5 = 1 2/5
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 2/5
Check. Check: 1 2/5 is more than 1, as 7/5 is more than 5/5.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.4 + 3 = 7
- Write the total. 7 parts of size 1/6.7/6
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/6 left over.7/6 = 1 1/6
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/6
Check. Check: 1 1/6 is more than 1, as 7/6 is more than 6/6.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Watch out
Watch out. 5/4 is 1 1/4, not 5 and 4 as separate numbers. Count the whole ones first.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use two bars cut into 4 parts. Ask: “How many full bars are shaded? How many parts are left?”
Exercise 6D Practice: totals greater than one
Non-calculatorMethod. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.2 + 2 = 4
- Write the total. 4 parts of size 1/3.4/3
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/3 left over.4/3 = 1 1/3
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/3
Check. Check: 1 1/3 is more than 1, as 4/3 is more than 3/3.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.5 + 4 = 9
- Write the total. 9 parts of size 1/8.9/8
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/8 left over.9/8 = 1 1/8
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/8
Check. Check: 1 1/8 is more than 1, as 9/8 is more than 8/8.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.4 + 4 = 8
- Write the total. 8 parts of size 1/6.8/6
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/3 left over.4/3 = 1 1/3
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/3
Check. Check: 1 1/3 is more than 1, as 8/6 is more than 6/6.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.2 + 3 = 5
- Write the total. 5 parts of size 1/4.5/4
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/4 left over.5/4 = 1 1/4
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/4
Check. Check: 1 1/4 is more than 1, as 5/4 is more than 4/4.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.2 + 4 = 6
- Write the total. 6 parts of size 1/5.6/5
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/5 left over.6/5 = 1 1/5
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/5
Check. Check: 1 1/5 is more than 1, as 6/5 is more than 5/5.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.6 + 6 = 12
- Write the total. 12 parts of size 1/8.12/8
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/2 left over.3/2 = 1 1/2
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/2
Check. Check: 1 1/2 is more than 1, as 12/8 is more than 8/8.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.4 + 3 = 7
- Write the total. 7 parts of size 1/6.7/6
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/6 left over.7/6 = 1 1/6
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/6
Check. Check: 1 1/6 is more than 1, as 7/6 is more than 6/6.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.3 + 7 = 10
- Write the total. 10 parts of size 1/8.10/8
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/4 left over.5/4 = 1 1/4
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/4
Check. Check: 1 1/4 is more than 1, as 10/8 is more than 8/8.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.3 + 4 = 7
- Write the total. 7 parts of size 1/5.7/5
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 2/5 left over.7/5 = 1 2/5
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 2/5
Check. Check: 1 2/5 is more than 1, as 7/5 is more than 5/5.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.7 + 2 = 9
- Write the total. 9 parts of size 1/8.9/8
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/8 left over.9/8 = 1 1/8
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/8
Check. Check: 1 1/8 is more than 1, as 9/8 is more than 8/8.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.4 + 3 = 7
- Write the total. 7 parts of size 1/5.7/5
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 2/5 left over.7/5 = 1 2/5
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 2/5
Check. Check: 1 2/5 is more than 1, as 7/5 is more than 5/5.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.5 + 5 = 10
- Write the total. 10 parts of size 1/8.10/8
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/4 left over.5/4 = 1 1/4
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/4
Check. Check: 1 1/4 is more than 1, as 10/8 is more than 8/8.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.3 + 2 = 5
- Write the total. 5 parts of size 1/4.5/4
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/4 left over.5/4 = 1 1/4
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/4
Check. Check: 1 1/4 is more than 1, as 5/4 is more than 4/4.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.7 + 7 = 14
- Write the total. 14 parts of size 1/8.14/8
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 3/4 left over.7/4 = 1 3/4
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 3/4
Check. Check: 1 3/4 is more than 1, as 14/8 is more than 8/8.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.4 + 5 = 9
- Write the total. 9 parts of size 1/6.9/6
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/2 left over.3/2 = 1 1/2
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/2
Check. Check: 1 1/2 is more than 1, as 9/6 is more than 6/6.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.
Method. More than one whole: add the top numbers, then write the whole ones out.
- Add the top numbers. Keep the bottom number the same.3 + 3 = 6
- Write the total. 6 parts of size 1/4.6/4
- Write as a mixed number. There are 1 whole one and 1/2 left over.3/2 = 1 1/2
- Write the answer. This is the answer in its simplest form.1 1/2
Check. Check: 1 1/2 is more than 1, as 6/4 is more than 4/4.
Watch out. A top number bigger than the bottom is more than one whole. Write it as a mixed number.