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An improper fraction is one that is top-heavy.
This means that the top number is bigger than the bottom number.
Let's look at this improper fraction:
| 17 |
| 5 |
17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2
The remainder will be fifths because we are dividing by 5.
5 goes into 17, 3 times and 2 fifths are leftover.
| 5 | + | 5 | + | 5 | + | 2 | = | 17 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
This is 3 wholes and 2 fifths.
| 17 | = | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | 5 |
Have a look at this diagram to help you visualise it:
Change the following improper fraction to a mixed number:
| 39 |
| 7 |
Answer:
39 ÷ 7 = 5 remainder 4
This is 5 wholes and 4 sevenths.
| 39 | = | 5 | 4 |
| 7 | 7 |
