Fractions - Vocabulary

Fractions are an integral part of the Year 6 maths curriculum, introducing students to the concept of parts of a whole. The numerator, the top number in a fraction, indicates the number of equal parts being considered, while the denominator, the bottom number, shows into how many equal parts the whole is divided. Understanding these terms is crucial for students to grasp the difference between various types of fractions, such as proper fractions, where the numerator is less than the denominator, and improper fractions, where it is greater than or equal to the denominator. Unit fractions have a numerator of one, signifying a single part of the whole, whereas non-unit fractions have numerators greater than one.

Students also learn about mixed fractions, which combine a whole number with a fraction, and equivalent fractions, which, despite having different numerators and denominators, represent the same value. The curriculum introduces methods to visualise and calculate fractions, including the concrete method using physical objects, the pictorial method with images, and the abstract method which relies on numerical understanding without visual aids. Other concepts covered include the fraction wall for comparing fractions, number sequences, and quantities, which can be operated on by fractions. Additionally, students explore the common denominator for simplifying calculations, flexible partitioning for creating mixed numbers, and fractions as operators that function on quantities. Finally, the curriculum extends to whole numbers, integers, and the principle of commutativity, which applies to the addition and multiplication of fractions.