8.11 Whole numbers as fractions
Are you ready?
Remembering equivalent fractions will help you solve problems in this lesson. Let's give this problem a try.
Fill in the blank to find an equivalent fraction to $\frac{2}{3}$23:
$\frac{2}{3}=\frac{\editable{}}{6}$23=6
Learn
We can turn whole numbers into fractions by letting the whole number be the numerator, or number on top, and putting $1$1 as the denominator, or number on bottom. For example, $4=\frac{4}{1}$4=41.
We can do this because fractions represent a number of pieces of a whole. The numerator (top number) tells us how many pieces there are, and the denominator (bottom number) tells us the size of the pieces. When the denominator is $1$1, these pieces are whole units.
We can also represent a whole number with a fraction that has a different denominator, or number on bottom. We can do this by letting the denominator be $1$1, then multiplying the top and bottom of the fraction by the same number. For example, $3=\frac{3}{1}=\frac{3\times2}{1\times2}=\frac{6}{2}$3=31=3×21×2=62.
Apply
Question 1
Rewrite $\frac{9}{1}$91 as a whole number.
We can turn a whole number into a fraction by letting the denominator, or number on bottom, be $1$1.