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You probably know that you can easily convert a whole number to an "improper" fraction by expressing the whole number as a numerator and choosing 1 as the denominator. That would be a "reduced" improper fraction. It's also easy to convert a whole number to an unreduced improper fraction. Here's how:
Steps
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Express the whole number as a reduced proper fraction. The whole number is the numerator, and 1 is the denominator. For example, if the whole number is 4, the numerator of the fraction is 4, and the denominator is 1. Thus, 4/1.[1]
Choose any fraction equivalent to 1. A fraction is equivalent to 1 if its numerator is the same as its denominator. Examples are 3/3, 5/5, and 7/7.[2]Advertisement- Multiply the whole number by the fractional equivalent of 1. Take the improper fraction chosen in Step 1 above. Multiply it by any fraction that equals 1. This does not change the value of the original improper fraction. For example, multiply 4/1 by 5/5 (numerator times numerator, and denominator times denominator). 4/1 multiplied by 5/5 equals 20/5. You now have an unreduced improper fraction with the value of 4.[3]
- Examples of improper fractions that equal 4 include 4/1, 8/2, 12/3, 16/4, 20/5 and 24/6. Note that in each fraction, the numerator is four times the denominator.
- If the original whole number had been, for instance, 5 rather than 4, the numerator of an equivalent improper fraction would be five times the denominator.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow do I properly multiply fractions?
Grace Imson, MAGrace Imson is a math teacher with over 40 years of teaching experience. Grace is currently a math instructor at the City College of San Francisco and was previously in the Math Department at Saint Louis University. She has taught math at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels. She has an MA in Education, specializing in Administration and Supervision from Saint Louis University.
Math TeacherTo simplify the process of multiplying fractions, first multiply the numerators together to get the new numerator. Then, multiply the denominators together to find the new denominator. After obtaining the product, it's beneficial to simplify the resulting fraction by canceling out any common factors between the numerator and the denominator. By simplifying before multiplying, especially when dealing with larger numbers, you can work with smaller, more manageable numbers, which makes the calculation easier and reduces the likelihood of errors. Simplifying fractions not only streamlines the multiplication process but also aids in understanding the relationship between the numbers involved, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in mathematical operations. - QuestionHow could I make 4 into an improper fraction?
Community AnswerSome examples of this would be 8/2, 12/3, and 16/4. Do this by using Steps 2 and 3 above. - QuestionHow do you convert 15/6 into a whole number?Community AnswerIt will convert only into a mixed number, because 15 is not a multiple of 6. (18/6, for example, would convert into a whole number.)
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