How to change improper fraction to mixed number

Video transcript

Write 7/4 as a mixed number. So right now it's an improper fraction. 7 is larger than 4. Let's write it is a mixed number. So first I'm just going to show you a fairly straightforward way of doing it and then we're going to think a little bit about what it actually means. So to figure out what 7/4 represents as a mixed number, let me write it in different colors. So this is going to be equal to-- the easiest way I do it is you say, well, you divide 4 it 7. If we're dealing with fourths, 4 goes into 7 a total of one time. Let me do this in another color. 1 times 4 is 4. And then what is our remainder? 7 minus 4 is 3. So if we wanted to write this in plain-- well, let me just do the problem, and then we'll think about what it means in a second. So you see that 4 goes into 7 one time, so you have one whole here, and then how much do you have left over? Well, you have 3 left over, and that comes from right over there. That is the remainder when you divide 4 into 7. 3 left over, but it's 3 of your 4, or 3/4 left over. So that's the way we just converted it from an improper fraction to a mixed number. Now, it might seem a little bit like voodoo what I just did. I divided 4 into 7, it goes one time, and then the remainder is 3, so I got 1 and 3/4. But why does that make sense? Why does that actually makes sense? So let's draw fourths. Let's draw literally 7 fourths and maybe it'll become clear. So let's do a little square as a fourth. So let's say I have a square like that, and that is 1/4. Now, let's think about what seven of those mean, so let me copy and paste that. Copy and then paste it. So here I have 2 one-fourths, or you could see I have 2/4. Now I have 3 one-fourths. Now, I have 4 one-fourths. Now this is a whole, right? I have 4 one-fourths. This is a whole. So let me start on another whole. So now I have 5. Now I have 6 one-fourths, and now I have 7 one-fourths. Now, what does this look like? So all I did is I rewrote 7/4, or 7 one-fourths. I just kind of drew it for you. Now, what does this represent? Well, I have 4 fourths here, so this is 4/4. This right here is 3/4. Notice, 7/4 is 4/4 with 3/4 left over. So let me write it this way. 7/4 is 4/4 with 3/4 left over. Now what is 4/4? 4/4 is one whole. So you have one whole with 3/4 left over, so you end up with 1 and 3/4. So that is the 3/4 part and that is your one whole. Hopefully that makes sense and hopefully you understand why it connects. Because you say, well, how many wholes do you have? When you're dividing the 4 into the 7 and getting the one, you're essentially saying how many wholes? So the number of wholes, or you can imagine, the number of whole pies. And then how many pieces do we have left over? Well, we have 3 pieces and each piece is 1/4, so we have 3/4 left over. So we have one whole pie and three pieces, which are each a fourth left over.

An improper fraction is a fraction that has a numerator larger than the denominator.

The way to look at improper fractions is that it is greater than 1. This means that within the improper fraction is a whole number and a proper fraction.

A mixed number is another way to represent an improper fraction and will state the fraction as a whole number plus a proper fraction.

What Are The Steps To Change Improper Fractions To Mixed Numbers?

Improper fractions can be changed into mixed numbers using these steps:

  1. Divide the numerator by the denominator. The number of times that it will go into the numerator will be your whole number.
  2. Identify the remainder from the division bove in step 1. That will be the numerator of the proper fraction portion.
  3. Put the remainder over the original denominator.

Check out my video above where I walk you through 4 examples of how to change improper fractions into mixed numbers.

An Improper Fraction has a top number larger than (or equal to) the bottom number.

It is usually "top-heavy"

More Examples

32 73 1615 1515 1005

See how the top number is bigger than (or equal to) the bottom number?
That makes it an Improper Fraction, (but there is nothing wrong about Improper Fractions).

Three Types of Fractions

There are three types of fraction:

Fractions

A Fraction (such as 7/4) has two numbers:

NumeratorDenominator

The top number (the Numerator) is the number of parts we have.
The bottom number (the Denominator) is the number of parts the whole is divided into.

Example: 7/4 means:

  • We have 7 parts
  • Each part is a quarter (1/4) of a whole

So we can define the three types of fractions like this:

Proper Fractions:The numerator is less than the denominator
Examples: 1/3, 3/4, 2/7
   
Improper Fractions:The numerator is greater than (or equal to) the denominator
Examples: 4/3, 11/4, 7/7
   
Mixed Fractions:A whole number and proper fraction together
Examples: 1 1/3, 2 1/4, 16 2/5

Improper Fraction

So an improper fraction is a fraction where the top number (numerator) is greater than or equal to the bottom number (denominator): it is top-heavy.

How to change improper fraction to mixed number

44

Can be Equal

What about when the numerator is equal to the denominator? For example 4/4 ?

Well it is the same as a whole, but it is written as a fraction, so most people agree it is a type of improper fraction.

Improper Fractions or Mixed Fractions

We can use either an improper fraction or a mixed fraction to show the same amount.

For example 134 = 74, as shown here:

Converting Improper Fractions to Mixed Fractions

To convert an improper fraction to a mixed fraction, follow these steps:

How to change improper fraction to mixed number
  • Divide the numerator by the denominator.
  • Write down the whole number answer
  • Then write down any remainder above the denominator.
   

Example: Convert 114 to a mixed fraction.

Divide:

11 ÷ 4 = 2 with a remainder of 3

Write down the 2 and then write down the remainder (3) above the denominator (4).

Answer:

2 34

That example can be written like this:

Example: Convert 103 to a mixed fraction.

Answer:

3 13

Converting Mixed Fractions to Improper Fractions

To convert a mixed fraction to an improper fraction, follow these steps:

How to change improper fraction to mixed number
  • Multiply the whole number part by the fraction's denominator.
  • Add that to the numerator
  • Then write the result on top of the denominator.
   

Example: Convert 325 to an improper fraction.

Multiply the whole number part by the denominator:

3 × 5 = 15

Add that to the numerator:

15 + 2 = 17

Then write that result above the denominator:

175

We can do the numerator in one go:

Example: Convert 219 to an improper fraction.

Are Improper Fractions Bad ?

NO, they aren't bad!

For mathematics they are actually better than mixed fractions. Because mixed fractions can be confusing when we write them in a formula: should the two parts be added or multiplied?

Mixed Fraction:   What is:   1 + 214   ?    
    Is it:   1 + 2 + 14   = 314 ?
    Or is it:   1 + 2 × 14   = 112 ?
             
Improper Fraction:  What is:   1 + 94   ?    
    It is:   44 + 94 = 134  

But, for everyday use, people understand mixed fractions better.

Example: It is easier to say "I ate 214 sausages", than "I ate 94 sausages"


We Recommend:

  • For Mathematics: Improper Fractions
  • For Everyday Use: Mixed Fractions