First, remember that a fraction shows parts of a whole. Think of a perfectly sliced mango; each slice is a fraction of the whole fruit. Next, we'll look at the four operations you can do with fractions: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Each has its own recipe, just like cooking different Kenyan dishes. We'll also learn how to change an improper fraction into a mixed number – useful when you end up with more than one whole, like when you have 7/4 of a sack of maize. Finally, we'll tackle multi‑step word problems that combine these ideas, so you can solve real‑world situations, such as splitting water among several families. By the end of this lesson, you'll be confident turning fractions into useful tools in everyday life.
Everyone, let's quickly review how we add and subtract fractions that have different denominators. First, we need to find a common denominator—a number that both original denominators can divide into. Then we adjust the numerators so the fractions represent the same parts of that new whole. Here's an example: adding 3⁄4 and 2⁄5. The common denominator is 20. We rewrite 3⁄4 as 15⁄20 and 2⁄5 as 8⁄20, then add the numerators: 15 + 8 = 23, giving 23⁄20. Notice the bolded numbers in the table—they show exactly how we convert each fraction. Any questions before we move on? Great, remember: find the common denominator, adjust the numerators, then perform the operation on those numerators. That's the full recipe for adding or subtracting unlike fractions.
Everyone, let's dive into Mixed Numbers & Improper Fractions. This will help us add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions more easily. First, remember that a mixed number is simply a whole number plus a fraction. For example, 2 ½ means 2 whole units and half of another unit. To turn that mixed number into an improper fraction, we use the formula: (whole × denominator + numerator) ÷ denominator. At this chart: it shows 2 ½ becoming 5/2 and 3 ⅓ becoming 10/3. Notice how the numerator grows because we're adding the whole parts as extra fractions. Why does this matter? When we have all fractions in the same form, adding or subtracting them is straightforward—just line up the denominators. To recap: a mixed number equals a whole plus a fraction, and we convert it using (whole × denominator + numerator) over denominator. Great job, everyone!
