Lesson 5 — Activity 2:

Proper Fractions and Improper Fractions


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A fraction with a numerator smaller than the denominator is called a proper fraction. This is the proper, or correct, way to write a fraction. Sometimes a fraction has a numerator larger than the denominator. This is called an improper fraction. You need to do the calculations to change this to proper form!

Examples:


Proper Fraction

  3  

4

  • the numerator – or top number – is smaller than the denominator –

    or bottom number

Improper Fraction

  8  

5

  • the numerator – or top number – is larger than the denominator –

    or bottom number











  Self-check!

Try these questions!


  Click here to download a practice sheet on identifying and representing proper fractions.

Complete the activity sheet, and then click here to compare your answers with the answer key!

Digging Deeper!

Click here for more information on proper fractions.