Search blog

How to read fractions in English? A compilation of reading fractions in English

Reading fractions in English is by no means easy. To use it effectively, you must practice frequently and know a lot of rules. PREP has compiled the most comprehensive ways to read fractions in English, so save it now!

A compilation of reading fractions in English
A compilation of reading fractions in English

I. What are fractions in English?

What are fractions in English? Fractions consist of two main components, the numerator and the denominator. The numerator is above and the denominator is below, separated by a hyphen.

For example: Fractions: 1/2, 3/5, 5/6

In addition, fractions also have a mixed number component. The mixed number is between the numerator and the denominator, aligned with the hyphen.

For example: Mixed numbers:

What are fractions in English?
What are fractions in English?

II. Detailed ways to write and read fractions in English

You need to know ordinal and cardinal numbers in order to read fractions in English.

  • Cardinal numbers: numbers used for counting. Example: 1 - one, 2 - two,...
  • Ordinal numbers: numbers used for numbering. Example: 1st - first, 2nd - second, 3rd - third,..

Here is the most detailed way to write and read fractions in English that you need to understand:

1. Writing and reading the numerator in English

For the numerator, we use cardinal numbers to read and write. For example:

No.

Fraction

How to read fraction

1

1/5

The numerator is 1, read as one.

2

2/7

The numerator is 2, read as two.

3

3/4

The numerator is 3, read as three.

4

4/5

The numerator is 4, read as four.

5

6/7

The numerator is 6, read as six.

 

2. Writing and reading the denominator in English

For the denominator, writing and reading are divided into the following 2 cases:

Case

How to read fraction

Example

Case 1

If the denominator of the fraction has 1 digit, use ordinal numbers to read. If the numerator is greater than 1, add "s" to the denominator.

⅗ is read as: three fifths

  • The numerator uses cardinal number: three
  • The denominator is a number with 1 digit and greater than 1 → Read the denominator by using ordinal number + add s (fifths)

Case 2

For numerator or denominator with two or more digits, the reading will be: (numerator) over (denominator)

Specifically:

The numerator is read using counting numbers

The denominator is read like normal numbers or using counting numbers to read each individual digit.

3/462 will have 2 ways to read: 

  • three over four six two. 
  • Three over four hundred and sixty two. 

11/6 is read as eleven over six. 

3. Writing and reading mixed numbers in English

A mixed number is composed of the whole number part and the fractional part. The specific way to read a mixed number is as follows: 

  • For the whole number part: use counting numbers to read it.
  • For the fractional part: use the method of reading fractions as instructed above.
  • Between the whole number part and the fractional part, they must be connected with "and".

Formula rule:

Whole number (read using counting numbers) + and + fractional part (following the rules mentioned above)

For example: 

two and three fifths 

three and five sixths

4. Writing and reading special fractions in English

Here are some ways to read special fractions in English that you need to remember:

Fraction

How to read fraction

½ 

A half or one half  

¼ 

One quarter/ a quarter

¾ 

Three quarters

1/100

One hundredth/ one percent

1/1000

one thousandth/ one over a thousand

Detailed ways to write and read fractions in English
Writing and reading special fractions in English

III. Exercises to practice read fractions in English with answers

Exercises to practice read fractions in English with answers
Exercises to practice read fractions in English with answers

Here are some exercises to practice read fractions in English with answers for you to practice.

Exercise 1: Write the following fractions in English

  1. 30/652
  2. 8/704
  3. 1/8
  4. 3/10
  5. 4/10

Answer:

  1. thirty over six five two / thirty over six hundred and fifty two
  2. eight over seven zero four/ eight over seven oh four 
  3. one-eighth
  4.  three-tenths
  5. four-tenths

Exercise 2: Write the corresponding fractions.

  1. Seven over five four eight five
  2. Seven and five eighths
  3. Ninety- one over twenty
  4. One-quarter or one-fourth
  5. Three-quarters or three-fourths

Answer:

  1. 7/5485
  2. 75/8
  3. 91/20
  4. 1/4
  5. 3/4

The most thorough and reliable methods for read fractions in English are those listed above. To understand the rules of fractional reading effectively, you can read and solve arithmetic problems in English. PREP hopes that the information above will be beneficial to you.

CEO Tú Phạm
Master Tu Pham
Founder/CEO at Prep
Mr. Tú Phạm is the founder of PREP, a Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of teaching and test preparation experience, he has assisted thousands of students in achieving high scores on the IELTS exam. Additionally, Mr. Tú Phạm serves as a consultant for British Council programs and as a speaker at numerous premier education events, programs, and seminars.
Show more

Comment

0/300 ký tự

Đăng ký tư vấn lộ trình học

Bạn hãy để lại thông tin, Prep sẽ liên hệ tư vấn cho mình ngay nha!

bg contact
Prep Technology Joint Stock Company
Business code: 0109817671
Address: 234/35/20 Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Co Nhue 1 Ward, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi City, Vietnam
Office headquarters: NO.21-C2 Nam Trung Yen Urban Area, Trung Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi City
ABOUT PREP
IntroductionCareer
CONNECT
DOWNLOAD PREP APPLICATION FOR MOBILE DEVICES
Download App StoreDownload Google Play
PREP FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING CENTER
Virtual training room - real experience - leading technology.
Hotline: 0931 42 8899
Address: 234/35/20 Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Co Nhue 1 Ward, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi City, Vietnam
Certificate of training and fostering activities No. 1309/QD-SGDDT dated July 31, 2023 issued by Hanoi Department of Education and Training
CERTIFIED BY
Bộ Công ThươngsectigoDMCA.com Protection Status