Meaning & use
proper fraction
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Meaning
nouncountablemathematics
A fraction whose top number is smaller than its bottom number, so its value is less than one.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a proper fraction' or 'proper fractions'.
Patterns
- a proper fraction
- proper fractions
Three-quarters is a proper fraction because 3 is less than 4.
In a proper fraction, the numerator is always smaller than the denominator.
The teacher asked us to circle all the proper fractions on the worksheet.
Word forms
| plural | proper fractions |
|---|
Common combinations
- proper fraction and improper fraction
- We learned the difference between a proper fraction and an improper fraction today.
- write a proper fraction
- Can you write a proper fraction that is equal to one-half?
- convert to a proper fraction
- The calculator can convert an improper fraction to a proper fraction.
Synonyms and how they differ
Opposites
Word family
- fraction noun
- A number that shows part of a whole, such as 1/2 or 3/4.
Commonly confused: proper fraction or improper fraction?
proper fraction vs improper fraction
An improper fraction has a top number that is equal to or larger than the bottom number, so its value is one or more.
Practice
Which of these is a proper fraction?
Choose one answer.
2/3 is a proper fraction because the numerator (2) is smaller than the denominator (3). 7/4 and 9/2 are improper fractions, and 5/5 equals one, so it is also improper.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “proper fraction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.