Fractions Vocabulary Grade 6

Fraction Bar

A fraction bar is the line that separates the numerator and the denominator of a fraction.

Proper Fraction

A fraction in which the numerator and denominator are both whole numbers and the denominator is greater than the numerator. It is always less than 1. 5/6 is a proper fraction.

Unit Fraction

A fraction in which the numerator is 1 and denominator is any whole number is a unit fraction. It is one part of a whole. The whole can be divided into any number of equal parts. The fraction for one of those parts is a unit fraction. For a whole divided into 4 equal parts, 1/4 is one part and it is a unit fraction.

Lowest Terms

A fraction is in lowest terms when the only number that can be divided evenly into both the numerator and denominator is 1.

Mixed Number

A number is called a mixed number when part of it is a whole number and another part is a fraction. For example 1 1/4 is a mixed number because it has a whole number 1 and a fraction 1/4. 1 1/4 is another way to write 5/4.

Equation

An equation is a number sentence that uses an equal sign to show that two amounts have the same value. 1/4 + 1/4 = 1/2

Simplest Form

Another way of saying a fraction is in lowest terms is to say that it is in simplest form.

Equal

Equal means the same amount. For example, two-eighths equals one-fourth. The symbol for equal is =. ex: 2/8 = 1/4.

Equivalent

Equivalent fractions are fractions that have the same or equal value. 2/4 equals 1/2, so 2/4 and 1/2 are equivalent.

Fraction

Fractions are numbers that name parts of a whole. 5/8 is a fraction that means 5 out of 8 equal parts. Fractions also indicate division. For example, 6/3 is 6 ÷ 3 = 2

Common denominator

Fractions with the same denominator are said to have a common denominator. 5/8 and 7/8 have a common denominator of 8.

Common numerator

Fractions with the same numerator are said to have a common numerator. 3/4 and 3/16 have a common numerator of 3.

Improper Fraction

In an improper fraction, the numerator is greater than the denominator. An improper fraction is always greater than 1. 3/2 is an improper fraction.

Numerator

Numerator is the name for the number above the fraction bar in a fraction. 3 is the numerator in 3/4. It tells how many of the equal parts are being described. In 3/4, the 3 tells you 3 parts out of a total of 4 equal parts.

one-eighth or 1/8

One-eighth is how you read 1/8. It is a fraction and means one out of eight equal parts.

Denominator

The number below the fraction bar in a fraction is called the denominator. It tells how many equal parts are in the whole. 4 is the denominator in 3/4. In 3/4, 4 indicates that the whole is divided into 4 equal parts.

Estimate

When you answer the question "about what will the answer be?" you make an estimate. Making an estimate in your head gives you an idea what the exact answer should be close to.

Whole

When you say 1/4, you are talking about 1/4 of a whole. It is important to know what the whole is because the whole determines the size of the fractional parts. For example, it is important to know the whole with pizzas because 1/4 of a small pizza is less than 1/4 of a large pizza.