- Definition
Fractional notation is simply writing a fraction like "1/2" or "3/4" using numbers and a line to show parts of a whole.
The fraction 'one-fourth' is written in fractional notation as 1/4, with the 1 on top and the 4 on the bottom.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Fractional notation is like the special way a recipe writes down 'half a cup of flour.'
Ask your child: What do you think the little line between the two numbers means?
Common mix-up: Kids might see the top and bottom as two separate numbers. Fractional notation shows one single amount that is part of a whole.
Examples
- A recipe calling for 1/2 cup of sugar.
- Three-quarters of an hour written as 3/4.
- Showing that two out of five friends are wearing hats by writing 2/5.
fractional notation is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
