Max Maths, Year 5, Learn together, Improper fractions and mixed numbers

In a Year 5 classroom, students are learning about improper fractions and mixed numbers through a collaborative exercise. Jade, one of the students, writes an improper fraction on the board, setting the stage for a practical demonstration. Toby, her classmate, is then invited to convert this improper fraction into a mixed number. He begins by dividing the numerator by the denominator, a method that breaks down the fraction into a whole number and a smaller fractional part. For instance, Toby divides 17 by 3, resulting in 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 fraction part. The denominator, 3, stays the same throughout the process. As a result, Toby successfully converts the improper fraction into the mixed number 5 2/3.

The lesson continues with the understanding that to change mixed numbers into improper fractions, multiplication is required, while division is used to convert improper fractions back into mixed numbers. This simple yet effective rule helps the students grasp the concept of switching between the two forms of fractions. The reciprocal nature of these operations highlights the relationship between mixed numbers and improper fractions, reinforcing the students' arithmetic skills and enhancing their understanding of fractions.