Max Maths, Year 4, Learn together, Mixed numbers (3)

In a Year 4 mathematics lesson from Max Maths, students learn about converting improper fractions to mixed numbers. Padma, a character in the lesson, writes an improper fraction on the board, prompting Toby to demonstrate the conversion process. Toby explains that to convert an improper fraction to a mixed number, one must divide the numerator by the denominator. For example, with the improper fraction 17/3, he divides 17 (the numerator) by 3 (the denominator), which equals 5 with a remainder of 2.

The quotient, 5, becomes the whole number part of the mixed number, while the remainder, 2, forms the new numerator of the fractional part. The denominator stays the same, which in this case is 3. Thus, Toby successfully converts the improper fraction 17/3 into the mixed number 5 2/3. The lesson emphasizes an important mathematical concept: to change mixed numbers into improper fractions, we multiply, and conversely, to change improper fractions into mixed numbers, we divide. This simple yet effective rule helps students understand and perform conversions between these two forms of fractions.