How do you make an improper number into a whole number?

Answer 1

Three methods immediately spring to mind:

1. Multiply the improper fraction by its denominator (or any multiple of the denominator);
2. divide the numerator by the denominator to get a remainder. Put this as a fraction over the denominator and subtract it from the original fraction and then simplify this resulting fraction;
3. divide the numerator by the denominator to get a remainder. Subtract this from the denominator and put this as a fraction over the denominator and add it from the original fraction and then simplify this resulting fraction.

However I suspect you really meant to ask how to convert an improper fraction into a mixed number:

1. Divide the numerator (top number) by the denominator (bottom number) to get a whole number and a remainder;
2. put this remainder as the numerator over the original denominator to make a fraction
3. put this fraction with the whole number result of the division in step one.

eg convert 22/5 to a mixed number:

1. 22 ÷ 5 = 4 remainder 2
2. remainder 2 ⇒ 2/5
3. whole number is 4 ⇒ mixed number is 42/5

Thus 22/5 = 42/5