- Definition
The numerator is the top number in a fraction, showing how many pieces of the whole you have. For example, if you have 3 out of 4 slices of pizza, 3 is the numerator.
In the fraction 3/4, the numerator is 3 because we are talking about 3 of the 4 equal parts.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: The numerator is like counting how many slices of a shared pizza you have on your own plate.
Ask your child: If this fraction is 3/4, how many pieces are we talking about?
Common mix-up: Kids can mix up the top and bottom numbers. The numerator on top always tells you how many parts you are counting.
Examples
- If you eat 2 slices of a pie cut into 8 pieces, the numerator is 2.
- If 5 out of 8 crayons in a box are blue, the numerator is 5.
numerator 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 ↗
