What is a numerator?
Year 3 works with non-unit fractions like ⅗ and compares fractions with the same denominator, which is where both words become essential. Below: what it means, a worked example, the mistake to watch for and an 11+ question.
The answer
The numerator is the top number of a fraction, and it tells you how many of the equal parts you have.
What it means
In ⅗ the numerator is 3: you have 3 of the 5 equal parts.
The bigger the numerator, the more parts you have, so ⅘ is more than ⅗.
A worked example
Which fraction of this bar is shaded? 5 of its 8 equal parts are coloured.
- The bar is split into 8 equal parts, so the denominator is 8.
- 5 parts are shaded, so the numerator is 5. The fraction is ⅝.
The common mistake
Mixing up the numerator and the denominator. A trick: Denominator is Down at the bottom, and the numerator counts the Number of parts you have.
How it comes up in the 11+
A pizza is cut into 8 equal slices and Sam eats 3. What fraction of the pizza is left, and what is its numerator?
Answer: ⅝ is left, and its numerator is 5
- 8 − 3 = 5 slices are left.
- Each slice is ⅛, so 5 slices are ⅝.
- The numerator is the top number, 5.
Try it yourself
The wall opens on ⅝, the fraction left in the pizza question: 5 pieces shaded, so the numerator is 5. Tap a piece to change it.
A fraction wall shows one whole split into halves, thirds, quarters and more, so equal fractions line up.
Related words and practice
More maths words
Questions parents ask
Can the numerator be bigger than the denominator?
Yes. Then the fraction is worth more than 1 whole, like 7/4, and it is called an improper fraction.
What if the numerator is 0?
Then you have none of the parts, so the fraction is worth 0. 0/5 = 0.
Knowing the words is half of an 11+ maths question
11+ papers use maths vocabulary without explaining it. The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.