What is a Fraction?
A fraction represents a part of a whole. It is written as one number over another, separated by a line. The top number is the numerator (how many parts you have) and the bottom is the denominator (how many equal parts the whole is divided into).
For example, 3/4 means you have 3 out of 4 equal parts. As a decimal, that is 0.75. As a percentage, that is 75%.
Types of Fractions
A proper fraction has a numerator smaller than its denominator (like 2/5). An improper fraction has a numerator larger than its denominator (like 7/4 = 1.75). A mixed number combines a whole number and a fraction (like 1¾).
| Type | Example | Decimal |
|---|---|---|
| Proper fraction | 2/5 | 0.4 |
| Improper fraction | 7/4 | 1.75 |
| Mixed number | 1¾ | 1.75 |
| Unit fraction | 1/8 | 0.125 |
Fractions in Everyday Life
You use fractions constantly without thinking about them. Cooking recipes, sale discounts, fuel gauges, map scales, and probability are all built on fractions. Being comfortable with fractions makes arithmetic in everyday situations much faster.
Using the Calculator
For decimal conversions, you can use the SolveCalc calculator directly. Type the numerator, press ÷, type the denominator, and press = to get the decimal value instantly.
For adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing fractions with step-by-step working, use the Fraction Calculator.