Fractions Made Simple: A Parent's Guide to KS2 Fractions

Fractions are one of the topics that cause the most difficulty in KS2 — for children and parents alike. The terminology can feel unfamiliar, the rules seem arbitrary, and the connection to real life is not always obvious. This guide breaks it all down clearly, so you can understand what your child is learning and help them with confidence.

The Basics: Numerator and Denominator

A fraction has two parts:

• The numerator (top number) — how many parts you have
• The denominator (bottom number) — how many equal parts the whole is divided into

So ¾ means: the whole is divided into 4 equal parts, and you have 3 of them. A useful memory hook: denominator = down below.

Equivalent Fractions

Equivalent fractions look different but represent the same amount. For example: ½ = 2⁄4 = 4⁄8 = 50⁄100.

To find an equivalent fraction, multiply or divide both the numerator and denominator by the same number:

• ½ × (3⁄3) = 3⁄6 ✓
• 8⁄12 ÷ (4⁄4) = 2⁄3 ✓

Simplifying fractions (also called reducing to lowest terms) works the same way — divide both parts by their highest common factor. So 6⁄8 → divide both by 2 → 3⁄4.

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Same denominator (easy): Just add or subtract the numerators: 3⁄7 + 2⁄7 = 5⁄7. The denominator stays the same.

Different denominators: You need to find a common denominator first. Convert both fractions to equivalent fractions with the same denominator, then add or subtract.

Example: 1⁄3 + 1⁄4

• Common denominator = 12 (3 × 4)
• 1⁄3 = 4⁄12 and 1⁄4 = 3⁄12
• 4⁄12 + 3⁄12 = 7⁄12

Multiplying Fractions

This is where many children are surprised — multiplying fractions is actually simpler than adding them:

Multiply the numerators together, then multiply the denominators together.

Example: 2⁄3 × 3⁄5 = (2×3)⁄(3×5) = 6⁄15 = 2⁄5 (simplified)

Multiplying a fraction by a whole number: 3 × 2⁄5 = 6⁄5 = 1 and 1⁄5 (one whole and one fifth)

Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages

These three are all different ways of expressing parts of a whole. Year 5 and 6 children are expected to convert fluently between them:

• ½ = 0.5 = 50%
• ¼ = 0.25 = 25%
• ¾ = 0.75 = 75%
• 1⁄5 = 0.2 = 20%
• 1⁄10 = 0.1 = 10%

To convert a fraction to a percentage: divide the numerator by the denominator, then multiply by 100. So 3⁄8 → 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375 → 37.5%

Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

A mixed number combines a whole number and a fraction: 2¾ means two wholes and three quarters.

An improper fraction has a numerator larger than its denominator: 11⁄4 means eleven quarters.

They are equivalent: 2¾ = 11⁄4. To convert: (2 × 4) + 3 = 11, over 4 → 11⁄4.