Business Math

Chapter 2: Fractions

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 2.1 Fractions
Learning Objectives
 Identify types of fractions
 Convert an improper fraction to a whole or mixed
number
 Convert a whole or mixed number to an improper
fraction
 Reduce a fraction to lowest terms
 Raise a fraction to highest terms
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 2.1.1. Identify types of fractions
 A fraction is used to
identify parts of a
whole. It describes
the relationship
between the part and
the whole.
 There are four parts:
and one is shaded or
1 in 4 which is ¼.

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 Key Terms
 Denominator-the number appearing below the
fraction line.
 Numerator- the number appearing above the
fraction line.
 Fraction line- horizontal line dividing numerator
and denominator.
 Proper fraction- a fraction has a value than is
less than “1” (⅔, for example.)

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 Look at the fraction

⅔
 2 is the numerator
 3 is the denominator

 Is it a proper fraction?
Yes, because the value of the fraction is
less than “1”.
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 Identify the fraction

¾

 What part of the area

is shaded?

 The fraction is 3/7.

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 Improper fraction
The numerator is a greater value than the
denominator, and therefore is greater than “1”.

 Proper or improper?
 10/4
 6/7
 9/8

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 Convert an improper fraction to
a whole or mixed number
 Divide the numerator or the improper fraction by
the denominator.

 If the remainder is zero, the quotient is a whole

number.

 If the remainder is not zero, the improper fraction

will be expressed as a mixed number.

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 Try these examples

 140/10
 14
 260/3
 86 ⅔
 135/4
 33 ¾

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 Write a mixed number as an
improper fraction
 Find the numerator of the improper fraction.

 Multiply the denominator of the mixed number

by the whole number part.

 Add the product from the previous step to the

numerator of the mixed number.

 Use the denominator of the mixed number.

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Look at this example.
Convert 10 ¾ to an improper fraction
 The numerator of the fraction is “3.”
 Multiply the whole number, which is “10” by the
denominator which is “4”; the result is 40.
 Add the numerator to product; 40 + 3 = 43.
 Retain the same denominator.
 43/4 is the improper fraction equivalent.

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 Reduce a fraction to
lowest terms
 Inspect the numerator and denominator to find
any whole number by which both can be evenly
divided.
 Carry out the operation until there is no one
number that both can be evenly divided by.
 Tip: Check if the denominator can be divided by
the numerator: 3/15, for example, can be
reduced to 1/5 when 3 is divided into 15.

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 Reduce to lowest terms
 18/ 30
 3/5
 27/63
 3/7
 21/147
 1/7

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Find the greatest common
divisor of two numbers
 The most direct way to reduce a fraction to
lowest terms is to use the GCD.
 The GCD is the largest number by which the
denominator and the numerator can be evenly
divided.
 For example, the GCD of 15 and 20 is 5. Any
number greater than 5 would result in a
quotient with a remainder.

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 How to find the GCD
 For example: find the GCD of 42 and 28.
 Divide the larger number by the smaller number:
42 divided by 28 = 1 R 14
 Divide the divisor by the remainder of the
previous operation (28) by (14)
28 divided by 14 = 2 R 0.
 When the R = 0, the divisor from that operation
(14, in this case) is the GCD.

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Try these examples.
 30, 36
 GCD = 6
 30, 125
 GCD = 5
 17,85
 GCD =17

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 Raise a fraction to higher terms
¾ is equal to ?
8
 Look at the two denominators and divide.
 “4” goes into 8 two times.
 Multiply “3” by “2” to get the equivalent
numerator.
 ¾ = 6/8

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Try these examples.
Determine the equivalent fraction in
higher terms:

4/5 = ?/25
 20/25
7/8 = ?/40
 35/40
3/5 = ?/60
 36/60
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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 2.2. Adding and subtracting
fractions
To add fractions with like denominators:

 Add the numerators

 The denominator remains the same
 Convert an improper fraction to a mixed number,
if necessary
 ¼ + ¾ + ¼ = 5/4 or 1 ¼

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Adding fractions with
different denominators
 You must first find the lowest common
denominator (LCD).
 Smallest number that can be divided evenly by
each original denominator.
 For example: ¾ and ⅝ [using inspection]
 Convert ¾ to an equivalent fraction in eighths
and then add.

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Adding fractions with
different denominators
 Find the LCD for 4/5, 1/2 and 1/8.
 It is not as apparent which number might be the
LCD given the denominators of 5, 2 and 8.

 You can use prime numbers to find the LCD

 Prime number: a number greater than 1 that

can be divided evenly by only itself and 1

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Find the LCD
using prime numbers
Denominators

Prime numbers 5 2 8

2 5 1 4
2 5 1 2
2 5 1 1
5 1 1 1
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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Find the LCD
 Multiply the prime numbers from the first column
together (2x2x2x5) to get the LCD.
 The LCD is 40.
 Convert the fractions to the equivalent using 40
as the denominator.
 4/5 becomes 32/40.
 ½ becomes 20/40.
 1/8 becomes 5/40.
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 Add the numerators
 32/40 + 20/40 + 5/40 = 57/40

 If the numerator is greater than the denominator,

it is an improper fraction and can be expressed
as a mixed number.

 It would be 1 17/40

 Inspect the fraction to determine if it is

expressed in lowest terms.

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 Subtracting fractions
with like denominators
 Subtract the smaller numerator from the greater
one.

 The denominator remains the same.

 5/8 – 3/8 = 2/8

 Reduce to lowest terms, if necessary.

 2/8 = 1/4

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Subtracting fractions with
different denominators
 As in addition, to subtract fractions you must
have a common denominator.

 Use the same methods of inspection or prime

numbers to determine the LCD.

 Carry out the operation.

 Reduce to lowest terms as needed.

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Subtracting fractions with
different denominators
 5/12 -1/3 = ?
 Find the LCD, which is 12.
 Change 1/3 to an equivalent fraction.
 1/3 = 4/12
 Carry out the operation:
 5/12- 4/12 = 1/12
 Reduce to lowest terms, if needed.

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Try these examples
 7/8 – ½ =
 3/8
 2/3 – 1/5 =
 7/15
 4/5 -1/6 =
 19/30

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Subtracting mixed numbers
 10 ⅛ – 7 ½ =
 Convert the fraction portion of each mixed
number to equivalent fractions.
10 1/8 -7 4/8 =
 Borrow “1” from the whole number to carry out
the operation.
9 9/8 – 7 4/8 = 2 5/8
 Reduce to lowest terms, if necessary.
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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Try these examples
 Maria has 6 ⅛ cups of flour, but only needs 4 ¼
cups for her recipe. How much will she have
left?
 1⅞

 Julia needs 3 ⅔ yards of tape to finish a display.

Bob brought her a 5 ⅞ yard piece from the
supply room. How much will be left?
 2 and 5/24

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 2.3 Multiplying and
Dividing Fractions
 Multiply fractions and mixed numbers

 Divide fractions and mixed numbers

1/2 divided by 1/3 = ?

3/5 x 7/8 = ?

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Multiply fractions
and mixed numbers

 Find the numerator of the product: multiply the

numerators of the fractions.

 Find the denominator of the product: multiply

the denominators of the fractions.

 Reduce to lowest terms

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Look at this example.
 ⅓x⅞=
 1x7=7
 3 x 8 = 24
 The product is 7/24.
 Reduce to lowest terms, if necessary.

2/3 x 3/4 = ?

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Tip!
 To keep things simple, if possible, reduce before
multiplying.
 ⅓x¾=?
 The “3” in the denominator in the first fraction
and the “3” in the numerator in the second
fraction cancel each other out and become “1”.

 The answer is ¼.

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Multiply mixed numbers
and whole numbers

 Write the mixed numbers and whole numbers as

improper fractions.
 Reduce numerators and denominators as
appropriate.
 Multiply the fractions.
 Reduce to lowest terms and / or write as a whole
number or mixed number.

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Try this example.
 1⅔x3¾=?
 1 2/3 becomes 5/3
 3 ¾ becomes 15/ 4
 5/3 x 15/4 = ?
 The “3” can be reduced to “1” and the “15” to “5”
before multiplying.
 Multiply: 25/4.
 Convert to a mixed number.
 6¼

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Are products always larger
than their factors?
 No. When the multiplier is a proper fraction, the
product is less than the original number.
5 x 3/5 = 3

 This is also true when the multiplicand is a

whole number, fraction or mixed number.
2½ x ½ = 1¼

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Reciprocals
 The relationship between multiplying and
dividing fractions involves a concept called
reciprocals.
 Two numbers are reciprocals if their product is
equal to 1.
 2 is the reciprocal of ½.
 What is the reciprocal of ⅓?
 3

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Divide fractions or mixed numbers

 Write numbers as fractions.

 Find the reciprocal of the divisor.
 Multiply the dividend by the reciprocal of the
divisor.
 Reduce to lowest terms, and/or write as a whole
or mixed number.

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Here’s an example.
 3¼ ÷ ⅔=?
 To carry out this operation,
 Convert 3 ¼ to an improper fraction
 Change ⅔ to its reciprocal which is 3/2
 Change from division to multiplication
 13/4 x 3/2 = 39/8
 39/8 = 4 ⅞
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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Try this problem.
 Madison Duke makes appliques. A customer has
ordered five appliques. Madison has ¾ yard of
fabric and each applique requires 1/6 of a yard.
Does she need more fabric?

 ¾ ÷ 1/6 becomes ¾ x 6

 Simplify by dividing 4 and 6 by 2.

 Multiply 3/2 x 3.

 The answer is 4 ½; therefore she can only make

4 appliques and she needs more fabric.
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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved
 Try this problem

 A home goods store is stacking decorative

boxes on shelves. If each box is 6 ⅔
inches tall, and the shelf space is 45
inches, how many boxes will fit on each
shelf?
 Six

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Cleaves/Hobbs: Business Math, 7e Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 All Rights Reserved