Understanding Numerator

What is a Fraction?

A fraction represents a part of a whole or a part of a group. It consists of two numbers separated by a line, where the top number is called the numerator and the bottom number is called the denominator.

The Numerator

The numerator is the number above the fraction line. It represents the number of equal parts being considered or the number of parts that you have. For example, in the fraction 3/5, the numerator is 3, indicating that we are talking about 3 out of the 5 equal parts.

Visualizing Numerator

Fractions can be visualized using shapes such as circles or rectangles divided into equal parts. The numerator tells us how many of those parts we are considering. For example, in a circle divided into 8 equal parts, if 3 parts are shaded, the numerator of the fraction representing the shaded portion would be 3.

Equivalent Fractions and Numerator

When you multiply or divide both the numerator and the denominator by the same number, you get an equivalent fraction. The relationship between the numerator and the denominator remains the same. For example, 3/5 is equivalent to 6/10. The numerator (3) is multiplied by 2, and the denominator (5) is multiplied by 2 to get the equivalent fraction.

Practice Questions:

1. What is the numerator in the fraction 4/7? 2. If a rectangle is divided into 10 equal parts and 3 parts are shaded, what is the numerator of the corresponding fraction? 3. How are the numerator and denominator related in equivalent fractions?

Answers:

◂Math Worksheets and Study Guides Fourth Grade. Decimals

Vocabulary/Answer key

Decimals

The resources above cover the following skills:

Algebra (NCTM)

Use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships.

Model problem situations with objects and use representations such as graphs, tables, and equations to draw conclusions.

Grade 4 Curriculum Focal Points (NCTM)

Number and Operations: Developing an understanding of decimals, including the connections between fractions and decimals

Students understand decimal notation as an extension of the base-ten system of writing whole numbers that is useful for representing more numbers, including numbers between 0 and 1, between 1 and 2, and so on. Students relate their understanding of fractions to reading and writing decimals that are greater than or less than 1, identifying equivalent decimals, comparing and ordering decimals, and estimating decimal or fractional amounts in problem solving. They connect equivalent fractions and decimals by comparing models to symbols and locating equivalent symbols on the number line.