FRACTIONS

Summary:
a
.
1. A fraction is a number in the form b

2. In a fraction the top number is called the numerator and the bottom number is
called the denominator
3 7
3. In a proper fraction the numerator is less than the denominator. Thus 4 and 9
are both proper fractions.
5
4. In an improper fraction the numerator is greater than the denominator. Thus 3
8
and 5 are both improper fractions.
3
1
5. In a mixed number a whole number is followed by a proper fraction. Thus 4
1
2
and 5 are both mixed numbers. A mixed number can be converted into an

improper fraction and vice versa

6. Equivalent fractions have the same value. In an equivalent fraction both the
numerator and denominator are multiplied or divided by the same number.
5 ¿ 5 × 2 = 10 12 ¿ 12 ÷ 3 = 4
Thus 8 8 × 2 16 and 15 15 ÷ 3 5

7. A fraction is in simplest form (lowest terms) when the top and bottom cannot be
any smaller.

8. In comparing fractions the one with a larger percentage is the largest

1
EXAMPLES:
2
3
1. Convert 5 into an improper fraction

Solution

2 ( 3 × 5)+ 2 17
3 = =
5 5 5
11
2. Express 4 as a mixed number

Solution
11 ¿ 2 3
4 4 (since 11  4 = 2 remainder 3)

21
3. Reduce 35 to its simplest form

Solution
21 21 ÷ 7 3
¿ =
35 35 ÷ 7 5

2 3 3 2
, ,
4. Arrange the fractions 3 7 4 and 5 in ascending order of magnitude

5 4 7 1
, ,
5. Arrange the fractions 6 9 8 and 2 in descending order of magnitude

2
 OPERATIONS WITH FRACTIONS

Summary:

(i)For fractions with plus (+) and minus () signs only, find the LCM and workout

(ii) For fractions with combined operations, the BODMAS rule must be observed.

EXAMPLES:

1. Without using a calculator, express the following as a single fraction:

2 3 2 1 5 3 3 1
+ 1 + 2 − 6 − 4
(a) 5 7 (b) 3 4 (c) 6 4 (d) 4 3

1 3 5 7 19 2 4 3 4
− + − + of ×
(e) 2 4 8 16 32 (f) 3 5 (g) 8 9

2 5 21 7 1 5 2 3 1
× × 1 × 3 ÷ ÷ 2
(h) 3 7 32 (i) 8 5 (j) 9 3 (k) 8 4
1 1 7 2
1 ÷ 2 21 ÷ ÷ 6
1
(l) 2 4 (m) 9 (n) 7

2. Without using a calculator, simplify the following fractions:

(
(i) 2
2
1
− 1
1
3 ) ÷ 1 59 (ii)
2
5
of
2
3
− (
1
4 ) +
1
2

3
 2
4 −
1 ÷
1
3
of 1( 3
7
−
5
8 )
5 3 2
2 3 1 3 + 1
5 ÷
4 of 2
1
of + 3
(iii) 5 4 2 (iv) 4 7 7 3

1 1 3 of 60 − 2 2 × 1 1
43 − 24
2 ÷ 1
2 1
46
5 3 2
(vi) 5 8
5
× 1 9 − 4 of 4 45 + 2 45 ÷
7 5 7
10

(v)

(vii)
8 of
{( 3
4
+ 1
5
7
÷
4
7
of 2
1
3 ) ÷ ( 1 37 −
5
8 ) of
2
3 }

3. Express the following as a single fraction:

x x x x − 2 2
+ + +
(i) 3 4 5 (ii) 4 5

3x − 5 2x − 3 x − 5 x − 2
+ −
(iii) 10 15 (iv) 3 4

3(x + 2) − 4x − 5
4 (vi)
2x − 5
5
−
3x + 2
4
+
7x + 15
10
(v)

FRACTION WORD PROBLEMS

1. A man gave half of his wealth to his wife, one-fifth to each of his two sons and
the rest to his daughter. Find:

(i) the fraction given to the daughter

(ii) his wealth, if each son received Shs 16,000

Soln:

4
(i) Required fraction =
1 − ( 12 +
1
5
+
1
5 ) =
1
10

(ii) If W is the man’s wealth,

1
⇒ W = 16,000
5
∴ W = 80,000

3 1
2. A man gave 5 of his money to his wife and 4 of the remainder to his son. If he
was left with Shs 90,000, find how much did his son receive

Soln:
3 1
Fraction given to wife and son = 5
+
4 ( 52 ) =
7
10

7 3
1 − =
 Fraction left = 10 10

If M is the man’s money,

3
⇒ M = 90,000
10
M = 300,000
∴ Amount given to son =
1 2
4 5 ()
× 300,000 = Shs 30,000

1 2
3. A man spent 4 of his salary on fees and 5 of the remainder on rent. If he was
left with Shs 270,000, find:

(i) the man’s salary

(ii) how much did he spend on rent

Soln:

5
 1 2 3
(i) Fraction on fees and rent = 4
+
5 4 ( ) =
11
20

11 9
1 − =
 Fraction left = 20 20

If M is the man’s salary,

9
⇒ M = 270,000
20
M = 600,000

(ii) Expenditure on rent

= ( )
2 3
5 4
× 600,000 = Shs 180,000

2 1 2
4. In a school, 3 of the students are boys. 4 of the boys and 5 of the girls are
lefthanded. Find the:

(i) fraction of lefthanded students in the school

(ii) number of students in the school if 420 are lefthanded

Soln:

2 1
(i) Required fraction = 3 4( ) + 13 ( 25 ) =
3
10

(ii) If N is the required number,

3
⇒ N = 420
10
∴ N = 1,400

EER:

6
 3 5 4 1
+ 1 ÷ of 2
1. Simplify without using a calculator: 4 7 7 3

2 25 + 1 78
3 − 1
2. Express 4 3 as a single fraction

4 of 3
11 4
( −
1
20 )

3. Simplify without using a calculator:

2 + (1
3
÷ ) ( 1 +
2
3 )
1 3
2
of 3
2
+
3
2 ( 52 −
2
3 )
3 of 2
1 ÷
1
Simplify without using a calculator: 4 2 4

4.

2
3
1 − (
2
5
+
1
4 )
7 + 1 of 3
Simplify without using a calculator: 50 3 5

5.

8.The numerator of a fraction is 3 less than its denominator. If the numerator is

3
.
tripled and the denominator is increased by 7, the resulting fraction is 2 Find the
original fraction

3 1
3 of 21 + 3
2
3
3
4 ÷ − 4 × 3 1
3
8 2
. Simplify without using a calculator: 5 8 × 1 9 − of 4 + 2 ÷
5 7 5 4 4 7
4 5 5 10

7
 3 3
7. A man spent 5 of his leave in his shop and 20 on visits. If he was left with 15
more days to spend,

(i) find the length of his leave

3 3
(ii) if after spending 5 of his leave in his shop, he spent 20 of the remainder on
visits and realized that he was left with 17 more days to spend, find how many
days had he already spent

2x
1 − + x
8
8. Express 5 as a single fraction

ab 1 1
,
9. Given that a  b = a + 1 find the value of 2  3
x + 3 −
x − 7 +
x − 5
10. Express 3 4 2 as a single fraction

3 3 7 13
, , ,
11. Given the fractions 5 4 10 and 20 find the difference between the
largest and the smallest fractions
a b 1 2
+ ,
12. Given that a * b = b a find the value of 2 * 3
x − 3 −
x − 7
13. Express 3 4 as a single fraction

14. Shs 12,000 is shared among P, Q and R. P takes onefifth of it, Q takes
onesixth of the remainder and R takes what is left. Find:

(i) the fraction taken by R

(ii) how much does each receive

8
 1 1
2 − ( 8 13 ÷ 2
1
2 )
of (1 )
1 2
1 1
5 + 1
5. Simplify without using a calculator: 4 3

2x − 5 3x + 2 7x + 15
− +
16. Express 5 4 10 as a single fraction
3x − 7 2x − 5
−
17. Express 3 2 as a single fraction

18. Express
4x − ( 3x 8+ y −
3x + y
4 )
as a single fraction

3 +
1
4
3
5 ÷ 5
17 of 3 2
5

19. Express 1 7
10 as a single fraction

3 −
1
8 5
7 −
2
20. Simplify without using a calculator: 10 3

APPLICATION OF FRACTIONS

EXAMPLES:

9
1. Bob takes 10 days to dig a garden. Ben takes 15 days to dig the same garden.
Find how long it will take them to dig the same garden if they work together.

Soln:

If T = required time
1 1
= + 1
15
T 10

 T = 6 days
2. A basin can be filled separately by taps P and Q in 6 minutes and 12 minutes
respectively. Find how long the two taps will take to fill the same basin if they are
opened at once when the basin is empty.

Soln:

If T = required time
1 1
= + 1
12
T 6

 T = 4 minutes

3. Tap P can fill a tank in 6 minutes, while tap Q can empty it in 15 minutes. Find
how long it will take to fill this tank if the two taps are opened at once when the
tank is empty.

Soln:

If T = required time
1 1
= − 1
15
T 6

 T = 10 minutes

10
4. A tank can be filled separately by taps P and Q in 6 minutes and 12 minutes
respectively. Tap R can empty the same tank in 5 minutes. Find how long it will
take to fill this tank if the taps are opened at once when the tank is empty.

Soln:

If T = required time
1 1
= + 1
12 − 1
5
T 6

 T = 20 minutes

5. Tom and Bob take 12 days working together to clear a garden. It takes 30 days
for Tom alone to clear the same garden. Find how long it takes Bob alone to clear
this garden.

Soln:

If T = required time
1 1
= + 1
T
 12 30

 T = 20 days

EER:

1. A garden can be cleared separately by Bob and Ben in 30 days and 20 days
respectively. Find how long it will take them to clear the same garden if they work
together.

2. A basin can be filled separately by taps P and Q in 30 minutes and 45 minutes

respectively. Find how long it will take to fill this tank if the taps are opened at
once when the tank is empty.

11
3. A tank can be filled separately by taps P and Q in 12 minutes and 15 minutes
respectively. Tap R can empty the same tank in 10 minutes. Find how long it will
take to fill this tank if the taps are opened at once when the tank is empty.

DECIMALS NUMBERS

Summary:

1. A decimal number is a number with a decimal point. Thus 175 is a decimal

number

2. To convert a fraction to decimal, divide the numerator by the denominator.

1 ¿ 1 ÷ 2 = 0⋅5 4 ¿ 4 ÷ 11 = 0⋅363636-------
Thus 2 and 11

3. A decimal number can be exact or inexact

4. An exact decimal or terminating decimal is a decimal that ends. This decimal is

converted into a fraction as follows:
decimal
Divide the decimal by one to get 1
(i)

(ii) Multiply both top and bottom by 10 for every number after the decimal point

5. To add or subtract two decimal numbers, line up the decimal points and then
workout.

6. To multiply or divide two decimal numbers, express the decimal numbers in

fractions and then workout.

EXAMPLES:

1. Using a calculator, convert the following fractions into decimal numbers:

1 1 3 7 5 15
2 3
(i) 2 (ii) 4 (iii) 4 (iv) 8 (v) 16 (vi) 64

12
2. Using a calculator, convert the following fractions into recurring decimals:
2 5 2 9 1 7
2 1
(i) 9 (ii) 11 (iii) 15 (iv) 22 (v) 6 (vi) 11

3. Convert the following decimal numbers into fractions in their lowest terms:

(i) 05 (ii) 025 (iii) 075 (iv) 0375 (v) 0625
(vi) 175 (vii) 235 (viii) 03 (ix) 037 (x) 00225

4. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 308⋅6 + 20⋅475 + 1⋅36

Soln:

308⋅600
20⋅475
+ 1⋅360
330⋅435

5. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 13⋅79 − 12⋅547

Soln:

13⋅790
− 12⋅547
1⋅243

6. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 136 − 14⋅54

Soln:

136⋅00
− 14⋅54
121⋅46

13
7. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 0⋅5 × 0⋅08

Soln:
5 8 40
0⋅5 × 0⋅08 = × = = 0⋅04
10 100 1000

8. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 0⋅25 × 0⋅004

Soln:
25 4 100
0⋅25 × 0⋅004 = × = = 0⋅001
100 1000 100000

0⋅032
. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 0⋅16
9

Soln:
0⋅032 32 16 32 100 2
= ÷ = × = = 0⋅2
0⋅16 1000 100 1000 16 10

0⋅0125 × 70
. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 0⋅0035 × 2⋅5
10

Soln:

0⋅0125 × 70
0⋅0035 × 2⋅5
=
125
10000
× 70 ÷
35
(
10000
×
25
10 )
125 × 70 × 10000 × 10
=
10000 × 35 × 25
= 5 × 2 × 10
= 100

14
 0⋅15 × 2⋅8 × 7⋅5
Without using a calculator, evaluate: 0⋅007 × 22⋅5

11.

Soln:

0⋅15 × 2⋅8 × 7⋅5

0⋅007 × 22⋅5
=
15
×
28
100 10
75 7
× ÷
10 1000
×
225
10 ( )
15 × 28 × 75 × 100 ×10
=
100 × 10 × 10 × 7 ×225
= 4×5
= 20

( 0⋅2)2 × 0⋅32
. Without using a calculator, evaluate: ( 0⋅4 )3
12

Soln:
2
( 0⋅2) × 0⋅32
( )
2 2 32
( )
3
4
3
= × ÷
( 0⋅4 ) 10 100 10
4 32 64
= × ÷
100 100 1000
4 × 32 × 1000
=
100 × 100 × 64
2
=
10
= 0⋅2

13. Without using a calculator, find the square root of:

(i) 009 (ii) 00081 (iii) 064  00121

Soln:

15
(i)
√ 0⋅09 =
√ 9
100
=
3
10
= 0⋅3

(ii)
√ 0⋅0081 =
√ 81
10000
=
9
100
= 0⋅09

(iii)
√ 0⋅64 × 0⋅0121 =
√ 64
×
121
100 10000
=
8
×
11
10 100
=
88
1000
= 0⋅088

14. Without using a calculator, find the cube root of:

(i) 0008 (ii) 0027  0125

Soln:

(i)
√3 0⋅08 =
√
3 8
1000
=
3 23
10 √
3 =
2
10
¿ 0⋅2

(ii)
3
√ 0⋅027 × 0⋅125 =
√
3 27
×
125
1000 1000
= 3
√
3 33 53
× 3 =
10 10
3 5
¿
10 10
=
15
100
= 0⋅15

RECURRING DECIMAL

Summary:

1. A recurring decimal is a decimal with endless repeating digits after the decimal
point.
..
2. A recurring decimal 0272727 - - - - - - - is the same as 0⋅27 or 0⋅2 7

3. A recurring decimal is converted into a fraction as follows:

(i) Form two equations in x with the same recurring part after the decimal point.

(ii) Eliminate the recurring part by subtracting those two equations

16
EXAMPLES:

1. Express 0363636 - - - - - - - as a fraction in its simplest form

Soln:

x = 0363636 - - - - - - -

100x = 36363636 - - - - - - -

100x = 36⋅363636----
− x = 0⋅363636-----
99x = 36

36
x =
99

4
∴ x =
11

2. Express 0⋅891 as a fraction in its simplest form

Soln:

x = 0891891 - - - - - - -

1000x = 891891891 - - - - - - -

1000x = 891⋅891891----
− x = 0⋅891891-----
999x = 891

891
x =
999

33
∴ x =
37

..
3. Express 1⋅2 7 as a fraction in its simplest form

17
Soln:

x = 1272727 - - - - - - -

100x = 127272727 - - - - - - -

100x = 127⋅272727----
− x = 1⋅272727-----
99x = 126

126
x =
99

14
∴ x =
11

.
4. Express 0⋅1 6 as a fraction in its simplest form

Soln:

x = 016666 - - - - - - -

10x = 16666 - - - - - - -

100x = 166666 - - - - - - -

100x = 16⋅6666----
− 10x = 1⋅6666-----
90x = 15

15
x =
90

1
∴ x =
6

18
5. Express 00234234 - - - - - - - as a fraction in its simplest form

Soln:

x = 00234234 - - - - - - -

10x = 0234234 - - - - - - -

10000x = 234234234 - - - - - - -

10000x = 234⋅234234----
− 10x = 0⋅234234-----
9990x = 234

234
x =
9990

13
∴ x =
555

6. Express 2014545 - - - - - - - as a fraction in its simplest form

Soln:

x = 2014545 - - - - - - -

100x = 2014545 - - - - - - -

10000x = 201454545 - - - - - - -

10000x = 20145⋅4545----
− 100x = 201⋅4545-----
9900x = 19944

19944
x =
9900

19
 554
∴ x =
275

. . ..
7. Find the exact value of 2⋅4 1 − 0⋅3 2

Soln:

2⋅4141-----------
− 0⋅3232 ----------
2⋅0909 ----------
x = 20909 - - - - - - -

100x = 2090909 - - - - - - -

100x = 209⋅0909----
− x = 2⋅09090-----
99x = 207

23
∴ x =
11

EER:

1. Express 0242424 - - - - - - - as a fraction in its simplest form

.. ..
2. Find the exact value of 1⋅8 2 − 0⋅2 8
0⋅0035
3. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 0⋅07 × 0⋅2

..
4. Express 0⋅2 7 as a fraction in its simplest form

5. Express 03181818 - - - - - - - as a fraction in its simplest form

0⋅625 × 0⋅009
6. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 0⋅0045

20
7. Express 0⋅63 as a fraction in its simplest form

8. Without using a calculator, find the square root of 00025  036

9. Without using a calculator, find the cube root of 0216  0125

.
10. Express 0⋅3 7 as a fraction in its simplest form

11. Express 0⋅45 as a fraction in its simplest form

12. Express 0818181 - - - - - - - as a fraction in its simplest form

STANDARD FORM

Summary:
n
1. Standard form is a way of expressing a number in the form A × 10 where
1≤ A < 10 and n is an integer

2. (i) To express a number in standard form, we shift the decimal point until the
digit part A is between 1 and 10. This digit A has a decimal point placed after the
first digit.
n
(ii) The power part ( 10 ) shows how many places to move the decimal point
3. The rules of indices apply to calculations in standard form

EXAMPLES:

1. Express the following numbers in standard form:

(i) 25000 (ii) 3860 (iii) 5683 (iv) 748 (v) 3584 (vi) 4000

(vii) 0435 (viii) 0000263 (ix) 0007 (x) 000356 (xi) 248 × 10 3

(xii) 4500 × 10−7 (xiii) 58⋅4 × 10− 4 (xiv) 0⋅027 × 10− 3

21
(xv) 0⋅0062 × 10− 4 (xvi) 0⋅0364 × 10 5

2. By expressing each of the numbers in standard form, evaluate the following:

(i) 00004  0002 (ii) 0005  000004 (iii) 800000  00005

800 0⋅00006 0⋅0009 × 8000
(iv) 0⋅004 (v) 2000 (vi) 0⋅002 × 0⋅3

n
3. By expressing each of the numbers in the form a ¿ 10 where n is even,
evaluate the following:
0⋅81
(i) 0⋅0027 (ii) 002  00015 (iii) 1500  40000

n
4. By expressing each of the numbers in the form a ¿ 10 where n is even, find the
square root of:

(i) 025  064 (ii) 016  009 (iii) 00036  025 (iv) 00081 
00004

5. Without using a calculator, evaluate the following give your answer in standard
form:

(i) (2× 10 2 )×(6× 10 5 ) (ii) (4× 10− 3 )×(5× 10 4 )

(iii) (9× 10− 2 )×(4× 10− 3 ) (iv) (15× 10− 3 )×( 20× 107 )

22
 −2
1⋅21 × 10 × 40
6. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 2⋅2 × 11

−3
2⋅25 × 10 × 3⋅9
7. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 1⋅3 × 1⋅5

EER:
0⋅0035
1. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 0⋅07 × 0⋅2

0⋅625 × 0⋅009
2. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 0⋅0045

−2
1⋅69 × 10 × 1⋅25
3. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 1⋅3 × 2⋅5

5600
4. Without using a calculator, evaluate: 80000 give your answer in the form
a ¿ 10 n where 1≤ a < 10 and n is an integer

APPROXIMATIONS AND ESTIMATIONS

23
This deals with rounding off a number correct to a given number of decimal places
or significant figures.

Summary:

1. Decimal places are counted from the decimal point. Thus 74564 has 3 decimal
places

2. To round up a number to a given number of decimal places, the digit in the next
decimal place must be greater or equal to 5. Thus to two decimal places
86287  863 and 33847  338.

3. (i) Any digit that is not zero is significant.

(ii) Zeros at the beginning and at the end of a number are not significant, well as
the zeros between nonzero digits are significant.

(iii) Significant figures are counted from the first non-zero digit. Thus to three
significant figures 86387  864, 306847  307, 0060287  00603 and
4028400  4030000

EXAMPLES:

1. Round off the following numbers to 2 decimal places.

(i) 49376  4938 (to 2 d.p)

(ii) 8264  826 (to 2 d.p)

(iii) 5997  600 (to 2 d.p)

NB : Writing zeros in (iii) above shows that the number is written to 2 dp.

2. Round off the following numbers to 3 significant figures.

(i) 80046  800 (to 3 s.f) 3045

24
 (ii) 007058  00706 (to 3 s.f)

(iii) 4526  4530 (to 3 s.f)

(iv) 3048  3050 (to 3 s.f)

(v) 24170  24200 (to 3 s.f)

5
3. Using a calculator, convert the fraction 7 into a decimal number correct 4
decimal places

4. Using a calculator, find the square root of 21 correct to 3 decimal places

5. Using a calculator, find the cube root of 4 correct to 3 significant figures

2
6. Given that  = 3142 and r = 3.3, find the value of A = πr correct to 4
significant figures

2
7. Given that  = 314, r = 24 and h = 3, find the value of V = πr h correct to
2 decimal places

4
V= πr 3
8. Given that  = 314 and r = 1.6, find the value of 3 correct to 4
significant figures

ERR:

25
1. Round off the value of 0070368 to:

(i) 3 decimal places.

(ii) 4 significant figures.

2. (i) Round off 209974 to 3 dp.

(ii) Round off 0070865 to 3 sf.

(iii) Round off 50036 to 3 sf.

(iv) Round off 364800 to 3 sf.

(v) Round off 39963 to 2 dp

(vi) Round off 04586 to 2 dp

(vii) Round off 452700 to 3 sf

2. A square has an area of 20 cm2. Find the length of its side, correct to 1d.p.

4.

5.

6.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

26