Fractions
Maths, Number. Usually met in years 7 to 10.
Add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions, and give answers in their simplest form.
What you practise
- Adding and subtracting with a common denominator
- Multiplying fractions
- Dividing by flipping the second fraction
Starts with fractions that share a denominator and builds up to division. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.
Sample questions
Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.
Sample question, level 2 of 5
What is 1/2 + 1/3?
- 5/6
- 2/5
- 1
- 1/6
- 1/3
Show the answer and method
Answer: A, 5/6
The method: Use a common denominator of 6: 1/2 = 3/6 and 1/3 = 2/6. Add the tops: 5/6.
Why the other options are wrong:
- B, 2/5: The tops were added and the bottoms were added. Fractions need a common denominator first.
- C, 1: The common denominator was found by adding instead of multiplying.
- D, 1/6: The fractions were multiplied instead of added.
- E, 1/3: Only the bottoms were multiplied. The tops need rewriting for the common denominator too.
Sample question, level 4 of 5
Work out 2/3 × 1/5. Give your answer in its simplest form.
- 2/15
- 1/5
- 1/4
- 13/15
- 10/3
Show the answer and method
Answer: A, 2/15
The method: Multiply the tops and multiply the bottoms: 2/15.
Why the other options are wrong:
- B, 1/5: The tops were added instead of multiplied.
- C, 1/4: The bottoms were added instead of multiplied.
- D, 13/15: This is the answer to an addition.
- E, 10/3: This is a division: the second fraction was flipped.
See where this fits: GCSE maths with AQA and Key Stage 3.
Related topics: Percentages, Standard form.
