Fractions
Fractions are used to represent parts of whole quantities.
The denominator of a fraction (the bottom) shows the number of equal parts in the whole.
The numerator of a fraction (the top) shows the number of parts being talked about or being used.
Example 1: Your friend, Matt, decided to create his own pizza by combining pizzas (of the same size) with different toppings. He put together 1/8 of a cheese pizza, 1/2 of a pepperoni pizza, and 1/3 of a sausage pizza. As he approaches the anchovy pizza, he wonders how much he should take to complete his “new” whole pizza. How much of the anchovy pizza should Matt pick up?
Solution: Let x = fractional part of the anchovy pizza needed to complete the pizza.
Example 2: According to NCAA regulations, the length x, in inches, of a regulation football is:
a. What is the difference, in inches, between the minimum and maximum lengths of a regulation football?
b. To the nearest percent, what percent of the minimum length of a regulation football is a regulation baseball of diameter 2 9/10 inches?
Solution:
