Brush up your maths: answer to improper fractions exercise

Express five and two thirds as an improper fraction. Express

      17
      ––
        5

as an integer and proper fraction.

          2         5 × 3 + 2         17
      5 ––   =   –––––––   =   ––
          3               3                 3

We multiply 5 by 3 to find the number of thirds in 5, then add 2 to give the number of thirds in five and two thirds.

      17             2
      ––   =   3 ––
        5             5

We divide 5 into 17 to get 3 with remainder 2. The integer part is 3, the fractional part is 2/5.


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