EDEXCEL GCSE FOUNDATION MATHS - What are Fractions of Amounts

Edexcel GCSE Foundation Maths: Fractions of Amounts

This tutorial will guide you through finding fractions of amounts.

Understanding Fractions

A fraction represents a part of a whole. It has two parts:

• Numerator: The top number tells you how many parts you have.
• Denominator: The bottom number tells you how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

Finding a Fraction of an Amount

1. Divide the whole amount by the denominator:

This gives you the size of one part.

2. Multiply the answer by the numerator:

This gives you the size of the fraction of the whole amount.

Example:

Find 2/3 of 18.

1. Divide the whole amount (18) by the denominator (3):

18 ÷ 3 = 6

2. Multiply the answer (6) by the numerator (2):

6 x 2 = 12

Therefore, 2/3 of 18 is 12.

Key Points:

• You can use a calculator to help you divide and multiply.
• If the fraction is a unit fraction (e.g., 1/4), you only need to divide the whole amount by the denominator.
• Remember that fractions represent parts of a whole, so the answer will always be smaller than the original amount.

Practice Problems:

1. Find 1/4 of 20.
2. Calculate 3/5 of 30.
3. What is 2/7 of 28?
4. Find 5/6 of 36.

Answers:

1. 5
2. 18
3. 8
4. 30

Try these problems yourself and check your answers. Good luck!