Understanding fractions: word problems

Key notes:

  • A fraction represents a part of a whole.
  • The bottom of a fraction is the number of equal parts in the whole. It is called the denominator.
  • The top of a fraction is the number of those equal parts you are talking about. It is called the numerator.

Learn with an example

🏚️ Nicholas and Lucas are cooking their favourite breakfast, scrambled eggs with canned ham. Lucas opens the can and cuts the ham into 3 equal pieces. Nicholas eats 2 pieces with his eggs.
What fraction of the ham does Nicholas eats with his eggs?

The ham is the whole.

Lucas cuts the ham into 3 equal pieces. The denominator of the fraction is 3.

3 number of equal parts in the whole

Nicholas eats 2 pieces with his eggs. The numerator of the fraction is 2.

2/3 number of equal parts you are talking about

Nicholas eats 2/3 of the ham with his eggs.

🏚️ Ford’s hobby is building robots. His oldest robot has stopped running. Ford needs to replace some of its wires. He cuts a long wire into 2 equal pieces. Ford uses 1 piece to fix his oldest robot.
What fraction of the wire does Ford use to fix his oldest robot?

The wire is the whole.
Ford cuts the wire into 2 equal pieces. The denominator of the fraction is 2.

2 <—- number of equal parts in the whole

Ford uses 1 piece to fix his oldest robot. The numerator of the fraction is 1.

1/2 <——number of equal parts you are talking about

Ford uses 1/2 of the wire to fix his oldest robot.

🏚️ Max is making rice custard for his family. He divides the rice custard into 7 equal-sized servings. He adds a spoonful of whipped cream to 4 of the servings.
What fraction of the rice custard has whipped cream on top?

The rice custard is the whole.
Max divides the rice custard into 7 equal-sized servings. The denominator of the fraction is 7.

7 <—- number of equal parts in the whole

He adds a spoonful of whipped cream to 4 of the servings. The numerator of the fraction is 4.

4 /7<—- number of equal parts you are talking about

4/7 of the rice custard has whipped cream on top.

Let’s practice!