Fractions are written with 2 numbers.
The top number is called the numerator.
The numerator stands for the portion of the whole you are discussing.
How are all of these shapes similar?
They all have one unit fraction shaded. Unit fractions have a numerator of 1.
A great way to remember that the numerator is on top is to think about the direction north. North is up.
Fractions are numbers that represent part of a whole. This is one whole circle.
- 4 pieces of the circle are green.
- 4/4 represents the whole circle.
One Whole
A fraction with the same number for the numerator and the denominator is equal to 1 whole.
- The circle is partitioned into thirds.
- There are 3/3 in the whole.
- 3/3 of the circle is colored turquoise.
- 3 thirds is the whole circle.
What fraction of the hexagon is shaded? What does the numerator represent?
3/6 of the hexagon is shaded.
3 is the numerator. It represents 3 shaded sixths.
What fraction of the rectangle is NOT shaded? What does the numerator represent?
2/8 of the hexagon is NOT shaded.
2 is the numerator. It represents 2 unshaded sixths.
Practice Problems
True or False?
3/4 of the shape is shaded.
What fraction represents the unshaded portion of the pentagon?
7. How many more sixths of the hexagon would need to be shaded for it to represent the fraction 6/6?
