A fraction greater than 1 is a fraction greater than on whole. This happens when the numerator is larger than the denominator.
Below are examples of fractions greater than 1.
Five-thirds 5/3 is greater than 1 whole because it’s equivalent to one whole 3/3 and two-thirds 2/3 .
Seven-fourths 7/4 is greater than 1 whole because it’s equivalent to one whole 4/4 and three-thirds 3/4 .
Fractions greater than 1 are also called improper fractions because the numerator is larger than the denominator.
They can be rewritten as mixed numbers, which show the whole number part and the fractional part separately.
Five-thirds 5/3 written as a mixed number is one and two-thirds.
Seven-fourths 7/4 written as a mixed number is one and three-fourths.
Visualizing Fractions Greater Than 1 with Area Models
An area model represents fractions greater than 1 by dividing shapes into equal parts and shading more than one whole. Each whole is split into equal pieces based on the denominator, and the numerator tells how what we are counting.
Examples of Fractions Greater than 1:
Plotting Fractions Greater Than 1 on a Number Line
Sometimes you might work with fractions on a number line that is longer than 1 whole.
What is the unit fraction of the fraction strip?
1 is partitioned into fourths, so the unit fraction is 1/4.
What fraction represents the whole strip?
There are 7 fourths in the fraction strip, so the fraction is 7/4.
Practice Problems
What fraction greater than 1 is represented by the area model?
What fraction greater than 1 is represented by the point on the number line?
What fraction greater than 1 is represented by the area model?
