The ancient Greeks believed that all numbers could be expressed as fractions. Legend has it that when one of them discovered numbers that can't be represented as fractions, he was drowned by other mathematicians.

In this video, you will discover the three fundamental types of fractions: proper fractions, improper fractions, and mixed fractions, and how they differ.

How Are Different Types of Fractions Defined?

Go to the next page to do activities involving these different types of fractions.

A part of something. In algebra, the numerator and denominator contain algebraic expressions.

The number at the top of a fraction. It tells you the number of equal parts taken.

The number at the bottom of a fraction. It tells you the total number of equal parts in a whole.

The line between the numerator and denominator in a fraction. It symbolizes division.