Lesson 2: Reading and Writing Fractions – Numerators and Denominators

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify the numerator and denominator in a fraction
• Understand what each part of a fraction tells us
• Read fractions correctly using proper names
• Write fractions using numbers and fraction symbols
• Connect visual models to fraction symbols

The Two Parts of Every Fraction 🔢

Every fraction has two important parts, just like every house has a roof and a foundation!

Let’s learn about these two parts:

The Fraction Bar (÷)

The line between the two numbers is called the fraction bar. It’s like a dividing line that separates the two parts.

Example: 3/4

In the fraction 3/4:

• The 3 is on top
• The 4 is on bottom
• The / is the fraction bar in between

Meet the Numerator! 👆

The numerator is the number on top of the fraction bar.

What does the numerator tell us?

The numerator tells us “how many parts we have” or “how many parts are colored/selected/used”.

Examples:

• In 2/5 → The numerator is 2 (we have 2 parts)
• In 1/3 → The numerator is 1 (we have 1 part)
• In 4/6 → The numerator is 4 (we have 4 parts)

Memory Trick! 🧠

“Numerator is on top, like numbers in the sky!”

Meet the Denominator! 👇

The denominator is the number on the bottom of the fraction bar.

What does the denominator tell us?

The denominator tells us “how many equal parts the whole thing is divided into” or “the total number of parts”.

Examples:

• In 2/5 → The denominator is 5 (the whole is divided into 5 equal parts)
• In 1/3 → The denominator is 3 (the whole is divided into 3 equal parts)
• In 4/6 → The denominator is 6 (the whole is divided into 6 equal parts)

Memory Trick! 🧠

“Denominator is down below, like the ground down low!”

Visual Examples with Shapes 👀

Example 1: Pizza Slices 🍕

Imagine a pizza cut into 8 equal slices:

• If you eat 3 slices, you’ve eaten 3/8 of the pizza
• Numerator = 3 (slices you ate)
• Denominator = 8 (total slices the pizza was cut into)

Example 2: Chocolate Bar 🍫

A chocolate bar divided into 6 equal squares:

• If you eat 2 squares, you’ve eaten 2/6 of the chocolate bar
• Numerator = 2 (squares you ate)
• Denominator = 6 (total squares in the bar)

Example 3: Circle Divided into Parts ⭕

A circle divided into 4 equal parts:

• If 1 part is colored blue, the fraction is 1/4
• Numerator = 1 (colored part)
• Denominator = 4 (total equal parts)

How to Read Fractions Out Loud 🗣️

Special Names for Common Fractions:

1/2 = “one-half” (NOT “one over two”)

1/3 = “one-third”
2/3 = “two-thirds”

1/4 = “one-fourth” or “one-quarter”
2/4 = “two-fourths”
3/4 = “three-fourths” or “three-quarters”

1/5 = “one-fifth”
2/5 = “two-fifths”
3/5 = “three-fifths”

Pattern for Reading Fractions:

1. Read the numerator as a regular number
2. Read the denominator with special ending sounds:
   • 2 → half, halves
   • 3 → third, thirds
   • 4 → fourth, fourths (or quarter, quarters)
   • 5 → fifth, fifths
   • 6 → sixth, sixths
   • 8 → eighth, eighths

Writing Fractions 📝

Three Ways to Write Fractions:

Method 1: With a horizontal line

3
─
4

Method 2: With a slash

3/4

Method 3: In words

three-fourths

Practice Examples 📖

Example 1: Reading Visual Models

Look at a rectangle divided into 5 equal parts with 2 parts shaded:

• Total parts = 5 (denominator)
• Shaded parts = 2 (numerator)
• Fraction = 2/5
• Read as = “two-fifths”

Example 2: From Words to Numbers

“Four-sixths” written with numbers = 4/6

• Numerator = 4
• Denominator = 6

Example 3: Understanding the Parts

In the fraction 5/8:

• 5 tells us we have 5 parts
• 8 tells us the whole thing was divided into 8 equal parts
• We read it as “five-eighths“

Common Mistakes to Avoid ⚠️

Mistake 1: Confusing Top and Bottom

❌ Wrong: Saying the denominator is on top
✅ Correct: Numerator on top, denominator on bottom

Mistake 2: Wrong Reading

❌ Wrong: Reading 3/4 as “three over four”
✅ Correct: Reading 3/4 as “three-fourths”

Mistake 3: Forgetting Equal Parts

❌ Wrong: Using fractions when parts aren’t equal
✅ Correct: Only using fractions with equal parts

Hands-On Activities 🙌

Activity 1: Fraction Detective

Look at these fractions and identify the parts:

• 3/7: Numerator = ___, Denominator = ___
• 1/4: Numerator = ___, Denominator = ___
• 5/6: Numerator = ___, Denominator = ___

Activity 2: Shape Coloring

1. Draw a circle and divide it into 6 equal parts
2. Color 4 parts
3. Write the fraction: /
4. Read it out loud: “___”

Activity 3: Real-Life Fractions

Find examples at home:

• A book with some pages read
• A glass with some water
• A box with some cookies eaten

Word Problems Practice 🧩

Problem 1:

“Ravi has a chocolate bar with 8 equal pieces. He ate 3 pieces. What fraction of the chocolate bar did he eat?”

Answer: 3/8 (three-eighths)

• Numerator = 3 (pieces eaten)
• Denominator = 8 (total pieces)

Problem 2:

“A class has 10 students. 6 students brought their lunch from home. What fraction of students brought lunch?”

Answer: 6/10 (six-tenths)

• Numerator = 6 (students with lunch)
• Denominator = 10 (total students)

Important Rules to Remember 📋

1. Numerator = Top number (how many parts we have)
2. Denominator = Bottom number (total equal parts)
3. Equal parts are essential for fractions to work
4. Read fractions with special names (thirds, fourths, fifths, etc.)
5. The fraction bar means “divided by”

Summary

Today we learned the two important parts of every fraction:

• The numerator (top number) tells us how many parts we have
• The denominator (bottom number) tells us how many equal parts the whole is divided into

We also learned how to read fractions correctly using special names like “halves,” “thirds,” “fourths,” and “fifths.”

Remember: Every fraction tells a story about parts and wholes!

Preparation for Next Lesson: Practice identifying numerators and denominators in fractions you see around you. We’ll explore comparing fractions and finding equivalent fractions next!

Fun Challenge: Can you find 5 things at home that could be described using the fraction 1/2? (Hint: Things that can be divided into two equal parts!)