Fractions, Decimals & Percentages

Overview

Fractions, decimals and percentages are three different ways of writing the same idea — a part of a whole. In Year 7 students find equivalent fractions, simplify fractions, convert freely between the three forms, and carry out the four operations with fractions using simple denominators. This is one of the most important Year 7 topics because nearly every later topic uses it.

What You Will Learn

• Find equivalent fractions and write a fraction in its simplest form
• Convert between fractions, decimals and percentages
• Add and subtract fractions, including those with different denominators
• Multiply and divide simple fractions
• Find a simple percentage of a quantity

Key Vocabulary

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Adding fractions by adding the numerators and the denominators (1/2 + 1/3 is not 2/5)
• Forgetting to find a common denominator before adding or subtracting
• Confusing 0.5 with 5% (0.5 is 50%)
• Not simplifying the final fraction when the question asks for the simplest form

Frequently Asked Questions