What is a Mixed Number?

Welcome to our What is a Mixed Number support page.

Hopefully all (or nearly all) your questions about mixed numbers will be answered here!

We have also included an interactive app produced by PhET to help you understand this concept.

What is a mixed number?

  • A mixed number is a number that has a whole number part and a fraction part.
  • You can also think of a mixed number being made up of a whole number, a numerator and a denominator.
  • You can have both positive and negative mixed numbers.
  • You can write mixed numbers as \[ a {b \over c} \] where a, b and c are whole numbers.
  • Mixed numbers are also called mixed fractions.

Examples of mixed numbers (or mixed fractions)

Here are some examples of mixed numbers: \[ 4 {3 \over 5}, \; 6 {1 \over 2}, \; 12 {4 \over 7}, \; 25 {1 \over 20} \; and \; 6 {9 \over 21}. \]

Mixed Number Explorer

This is a Fraction Builder app created by:

PhET Interactive Simulations University of Colorado Boulder https://phet.colorado.edu

It is a great app for exploring mixed numbers and you can use it for developing your knowledge of fractions too.

If you load the app and go to the 'Mixed Numbers' area, then you can practice writing down the mixed number represented by each of the fractions.

Understanding Mixed Number Worksheets

These sheets can be used to complement the learning in the Mixed Number Explorer or as a standalone activity.

The aim of the worksheets is to understand how to read and write mixed numbers, both as a fraction diagram and in written form.

The first two sheets consist of writing the mixed number represented by different fraction parts shaded, and also shading the fraction parts to represent different mixed numbers.

The 3rd worksheets involves solving three different mixed number riddles - which is a more advanced sheet.

Other Recommended Worksheets

Here are some of our other related worksheets you might want to look at.

Free Printable Fraction Strips

Here you will find a selection of Fraction Strips designed to help your child understand their unit Fractions.

Using Fraction Strips is a great way to learn your Fraction facts and help you to understand exactly how much fractions are worth.

Using these fraction strips will help your child to:

  • understand Fraction as lengths;
  • understand equivalent fractions;
  • understand visually how much each unit fraction is worth.

How to Convert Improper Fractions

This support page shows how to convert improper fractions to mixed numbers, and how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions.

You will also find printable support sheets, and several practice math worksheets for this learning fractions skill.

 

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How to Print or Save these sheets

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Need help with printing or saving?
Follow these 3 easy steps to get your worksheets printed out perfectly!

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