Fractional Parts
Finding a fractional part of a number means dividing the total by the denominator to find one equal part, then multiplying by the numerator for multiple parts. In Grade 6 Saxon Math Course 1, to find 3/4 of 20: divide 20 by 4 to get one-fourth (5), then multiply by 3 to get three-fourths (15). This two-step process applies equally to finding 2/5 of 40 students (= 16 students) or 3/8 of 64 km (= 24 km). It forms the basis for percent calculations and proportional reasoning.
Key Concepts
New Concept A fraction has a numerator (top number) showing parts represented and a denominator (bottom number) showing total equal parts in the whole. To find a fractional part of a group, we can divide the group by the denominator. What’s next This is just the start of working with fractions. Next, you'll tackle worked examples finding fractional parts of shapes, groups, and money.
Common Questions
How do you find a fractional part of a number?
Divide the total by the denominator to find one unit fraction, then multiply by the numerator. Example: 3/4 of 20 = (20 ÷ 4) × 3 = 5 × 3 = 15.
A farmer has 20 cows and sells 1/5 at market. How many are sold?
20 ÷ 5 = 4. So 1/5 of 20 = 4 cows.
What is 2/3 of 18?
(18 ÷ 3) × 2 = 6 × 2 = 12.
What is 3/8 of 64 km?
(64 ÷ 8) × 3 = 8 × 3 = 24 km.
How does finding a fractional part connect to percent?
Finding 3/4 of a number is the same as finding 75% of it. Both multiply the total by the given fraction/decimal.