Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Improper fractions

In the Max Maths Year 6 curriculum, students explore the concept of improper fractions. An improper fraction is identified when the numerator, the top number of a fraction, is greater than or equal to the denominator, the bottom number. This means that improper fractions represent a value that is greater than or equal to one. For instance, the fraction three-halves (3/2) is an example of an improper fraction because the numerator (3) is larger than the denominator (2).

Conversely, a proper fraction is when the numerator is less than the denominator, indicating a value less than one. An example of a proper fraction is one-half (1/2). The educational material encourages students to create improper fractions using visual aids. In one activity, a rectangle is divided into three equal parts, representing thirds. If there are eight such coloured parts, this visually represents the improper fraction 8/3. Another example uses a circle divided into eight equal parts, each part being one-eighth. When 27 parts are coloured, this demonstrates the improper fraction 27/8. These visual examples help students to understand and identify improper fractions in a practical and engaging way.