An improper fraction has a numerator that is greater than or equal to its denominator. To convert it into a proper fraction, which has a numerator less than its denominator, you can follow these steps:
- Divide the numerator by the denominator. This will give you a whole number.
- The remainder from this division will become the new numerator of the fraction.
- The denominator remains the same.
For example, let’s take the improper fraction 9/4:
- Divide 9 (numerator) by 4 (denominator), which equals 2 with a remainder of 1.
- So, you have 2 as the whole number and 1 as the new numerator.
This means that 9/4 can be expressed as 2 1/4 (two and one-fourth) when mixed into a whole number and proper fraction.
This process helps in understanding fractions better and can be useful in various mathematical operations.