Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions

To convert mixed numbers to improper fractions.

Instructions for adult guided task:

1. Children to work in groups of 2-4.

2. Cut out the mixed number and improper fraction cards and spread them out, face up, in front of the children.

3. Children take it in turns to find pairs of cards that are equivalent.

4. Children first choose a card showing a representation and a mixed number on it.

5. Children then use the sentence stems to help them convert the mixed number to an improper fraction.

6. Once they have converted it, they find the card with that improper fraction on it so they have a pair that are equivalent.

7. Children continue to take it in turns until all the pairs have been found.

8. If children are ready for a challenge, they can -position their cards on the number line and complete the questions below it.

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 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions

6 9 11 14
1 41 1 43 2 42 4 4 2 43 3 42 4 4

5 7 10 13 15
1 42 2 41 4 4 4 3 41 3 43 4 4

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 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions

The whole number in this mixed number is .

wholes are the same as quarters.

There are extra quarters.

+ =

The improper fraction is .

This resource is provided for informational and educational purposes only. As our resources may refer to the use of scissors, glue, small items/loose parts which may present a choking risk and ingredients, you must ensure that an adequate risk assessment is carried out prior to using this resource. You
must contact a suitably qualified professional if you are unsure. Twinkl is not responsible for the health and safety of your group or environment. It is your responsibility to ensure the resource and the information/activity it contains are safe and appropriate to use in your situation.

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 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions

4 8 12 16
4 4 4 4

1 2 3 4

1) Position your pairs of improper fractions and mixed numbers on the number line above.

2) Compare the improper fractions with their mixed number equivalents. What is the same? What is different?

3) How many quarters are there in 1 whole? 2 wholes? 3 wholes? Describe what you notice.

This resource is provided for informational and educational purposes only. As our resources may refer to the use of scissors, glue, small items/loose parts which may present a choking risk and ingredients, you must ensure that an adequate risk assessment is carried out prior to using this resource. You
must contact a suitably qualified professional if you are unsure. Twinkl is not responsible for the health and safety of your group or environment. It is your responsibility to ensure the resource and the information/activity it contains are safe and appropriate to use in your situation.

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 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
To convert mixed numbers to improper fractions.

1) Use the sentence stems to help you convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions.

a) The whole number in this mixed number is .

2 wholes are the same as quarters.
There is extra quarter.

+ =

The improper fraction is . 21 =

4

b) c)
24 = 42 =
5 3

d) e)

31 = 34 =
4 6

2) Match the correct improper fraction to the bar model, to complete the conversion.
a) 1
1 1 3
21 =
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
7 9 3 7
3 3 3 2

b) 1 1 1 1 1
4 4
32 =
4
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

5 14 8 12
4 4 4 4

Maths | Fractions | Lesson 7: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions visit [Link]
 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
3) Use the number line to help convert these mixed numbers to improper fractions.
5 10 15 20 25
5 5 5 5 5

1 2 3 4 5

a) 13 = b) 23 = c) 33 = d) 43 =
5 5 5 5

e) What do you notice about the improper fractions you have just found? Now, convert
5 53 to an improper fraction. Explain how you did it.

53 =
5 

4) Are these statements true or false? Write true or false next to each statement.

2¾ and 3⅔ have the same numerator when converted to

improper fractions.

3 11
25 = 5

4 wholes are equivalent to 16 quarters.

5) Sara is converting mixed numbers to improper fractions. Do you agree with Sara? How
should she use multiplication to help? Explain her mistake.

The numerators of my improper fractions will all be even because they are in
quarters and all numbers in the 4 times table are even.


Sara


22 = 31 = 43 =
4 4 4

This resource is provided for informational and educational purposes only. As our resources may refer to the use of scissors, glue, small items/loose parts which may present a choking risk and ingredients, you
must ensure that an adequate risk assessment is carried out prior to using this resource. You must contact a suitably qualified professional if you are unsure. Twinkl is not responsible for the health and safety
of your group or environment. It is your responsibility to ensure the resource and the information/activity it contains are safe and appropriate to use in your situation.

Maths | Fractions | Lesson 7: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions visit [Link]
 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
To convert mixed numbers to improper fractions.

1) Complete the bar models to convert the mixed number to an improper fraction.
1 1 1
1 1 4 4 4
3 11
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 24 = 4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

1 1 1
1 5 5 5
13 =
5

1 1
1 1 3 3
22 =
3

1 1
1 1 4 4
22 =
4

2) Convert these mixed numbers to improper fractions using Mia’s method.

I can multiply the whole 1) 3 × 5 = 15

number by the denominator 2) 15 + 2 = 17
and then add on the extra 3) The improper 32 = 17
5 5
fractional parts. fraction is 17 fifths.
Mia

a) 13 = b) 23 = c) 33 = d) 2 1 =
5 5 5 6

e) 3 1 = f) 4 1 =
6 6

3) Kai is converting mixed numbers. How can he use what he’s done so far to help him
convert 3⅔? How many fewer thirds will it be? Explain how you know.
2 17 
53 = 3
2 14 
43 = 3
2 ? 
33 = ?

Maths | Fractions | Lesson 7: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions visit [Link]
 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
4) Ruby is trying to convert 2 53 to an improper fraction. What mistake has she made? Explain
what she should do to make it correct.

I can use my times tables to help

me convert mixed numbers.
2 × 3 = 6 and then add 5 extra. 

Ruby 3 11 
25 = 5


5) Which of these mixed numbers have the same numerator when converted to an improper
fraction? Circle all the fractions with the same numerator.

2 51 2 63 5 21 1 65 3 53 3 23

6) Fill in the cards to make the statement correct. Only use each card once.
Is Anton right?

There is more than 1 way to 1 2 3

fill in this statement.

4 5
Anton =
3 3

This resource is provided for informational and educational purposes only. As our resources may refer to the use of scissors, glue, small items/loose parts which may present a choking risk and ingredients, you
must ensure that an adequate risk assessment is carried out prior to using this resource. You must contact a suitably qualified professional if you are unsure. Twinkl is not responsible for the health and safety
of your group or environment. It is your responsibility to ensure the resource and the information/activity it contains are safe and appropriate to use in your situation.

Maths | Fractions | Lesson 7: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions visit [Link]
 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions Answers
To convert mixed numbers to improper fractions.

1) Use the sentence stems to help you convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions.

a) The whole number in this mixed number is 2.

2 wholes are the same as 8 quarters.
There is 1 extra quarter.

8 1 9
8 + 8 = 8
9 1 9
The improper fraction is 8 . 24 = 8

b) c)
4 14 2 14
25 = 5 43 = 3

d) e)
1 13 4 22
34 = 4 36 = 6

2) Match the correct improper fraction to the bar model, to complete the conversion.
a) 1
1 1 3
1 7
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23 = 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
7 9 3 7
3 3 3 2

b) 1 1
1 1 1 4 4
2 14
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 34 = 4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
5 14 8 12
4 4 4 4

Maths | Fractions | Lesson 7: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions visit [Link]
 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions Answers
3) Use the number line to help convert these mixed numbers to improper fractions.
Children may choose to place the fractions on the number line to help them convert.
5 8 10 13 15 18 20 23 25
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

1 2 3 4 5

a) 13 = 8 b) 23 = 13 c) 33 = 18 d) 43 = 23
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

e) What do you notice about the improper fractions you have just found? Now, convert
5 53 to an improper fraction. Explain how you did it.
As the number increases by 1, the numerator increases by 5 because there
3
3 28 are 5 fifths in every whole. 5 is 1 whole bigger than 4 5 so I can add 5
55 = 5
more fifths to convert it to 28
5 . To check it, I can use my 5 times table to
help. I know there are 5 fifths in every whole, so there will be 25 fifths in
3
5 wholes because 5 × 5 = 25, and then add on the extra 5 .

4) Are these statements true or false? Write true or false next to each statement.

2¾ and 3⅔ have the same numerator when converted to

True
improper fractions.

3 11
25 = 5 False

4 wholes are equivalent to 16 quarters. True

5) Sara is converting mixed numbers to improper fractions. Do you agree with Sara? How
should she use multiplication to help? Explain her mistake.

The numerators of my improper fractions will all be even because they are in
quarters and all numbers in the 4 times table are even.

No, Sara is incorrect. The 4 times table will help her to convert whole
Sara
numbers to improper fractions but she will also have to add on the extra
fractional parts which could be odd e.g. 3 wholes and ¼. Therefore, the
numerators could be odd or even.

2 10 1 13 3 19
24 = 4 34 = 4 44 = 4

This resource is provided for informational and educational purposes only. As our resources may refer to the use of scissors, glue, small items/loose parts which may present a choking risk and ingredients, you
must ensure that an adequate risk assessment is carried out prior to using this resource. You must contact a suitably qualified professional if you are unsure. Twinkl is not responsible for the health and safety
of your group or environment. It is your responsibility to ensure the resource and the information/activity it contains are safe and appropriate to use in your situation.

Maths | Fractions | Lesson 7: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions visit [Link]
 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions Answers
To convert mixed numbers to improper fractions.

1) Complete the bar models to convert the mixed number to an improper fraction.
1 1 1
1 1 4 4 4 3 11
24 = 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

1 1 1
1 5 5 5 3 8
15 = 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

1 1
1 1 3 3 2 8
23 = 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

1 1
1 1 4 4 2 10
24 = 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

2) Convert these mixed numbers to improper fractions using Mia’s method.

I can multiply the whole 1) 3 × 5 = 15

number by the denominator 2) 15 + 2 = 17
and then add on the extra 3) The improper 32 = 17
5 5
fractional parts. fraction is 17 fifths.
Mia

a) 13 = 8 b) 23 = 13 c) 33 = 18 d) 2 1 = 13
5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6

e) 3 1 = 19 f) 4 1 = 25
6 6 6 6

3) Kai is converting mixed numbers. How can he use what he’s done so far to help him
convert 3⅔? How many fewer thirds will it be? Explain how you know.
2 17 Kai can use his knowledge of the 3 times table to help him. These mixed number
53 = 3
fractions are in thirds and are decreasing by one whole or 33 each time.
2 14
43 = 3
2 14 2 3
2 ? 4 3 = 3 so 3 3 is 3 less.
33 = ?
2 11
33 = 3

Maths | Fractions | Lesson 7: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions visit [Link]
 Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions Answers
4) Ruby is trying to convert 2 53 to an improper fraction. What mistake has she made? Explain
what she should do to make it correct.
Ruby multiplied the whole number
I can use my times tables to help by the numerator and then added the
me convert mixed numbers. denominator.
2 × 3 = 6 and then add 5 extra.
The denominator tells us how many
3 11 parts each whole has been divided into,
Ruby 25 = 5 so Ruby needs to multiply the whole
number by the denominator and then
add on the extra 3 fifths.
2 × 5 fifths = 10 fifths
10 3 13
5 + 5 = 5

5) Which of these mixed numbers have the same numerator when converted to an improper
fraction? Circle all the fractions with the same numerator.

2 51 2 63 5 21 1 65 3 53 3 23

6) Fill in the cards to make the statement correct. Only use each card once.
Is Anton right?

There is more than 1 way to 1 2 3

fill in this statement.

4 5
2 5
Anton 1 =
3 3
No, Anton is incorrect. This is the only way of filling it in with these digit cards because 2
6
wholes is 3 , so any mixed number larger than 2 would require higher digit cards.

This resource is provided for informational and educational purposes only. As our resources may refer to the use of scissors, glue, small items/loose parts which may present a choking risk and ingredients, you
must ensure that an adequate risk assessment is carried out prior to using this resource. You must contact a suitably qualified professional if you are unsure. Twinkl is not responsible for the health and safety
of your group or environment. It is your responsibility to ensure the resource and the information/activity it contains are safe and appropriate to use in your situation.

Maths | Fractions | Lesson 7: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions visit [Link]