A whole number and a fraction combined together is called a mixed number. A mixed number consists of an integer (whole number) and a proper fraction. For example, 2 1/2 is a mixed number where 2 is the whole number and 1/2 is the fraction.
Mixed numbers are often used in everyday life, such as in cooking recipes or measuring lengths. They provide a way to express quantities that are more than a whole but not quite the next whole number.
To convert a mixed number to an improper fraction, you multiply the whole number by the denominator of the fraction, add the numerator, and place the result over the original denominator. For example, 2 1/2 can be converted to an improper fraction as follows: (2 × 2) + 1 = 5, so 2 1/2 = 5/2.
Understanding mixed numbers is essential in various mathematical operations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.