Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What is the process for converting an improper fraction back to a mixed number?

1. Divide the numerator by the denominator

2. Subtract the numbers

3. Add the numerator and denominator

4. Multiply the numerator by the denominator

The correct answer is: Divide the numerator by the denominator

To convert an improper fraction back to a mixed number, the correct process is to divide the numerator by the denominator. This division determines how many whole numbers can be formed from the improper fraction. When you perform this division, the integer result represents the whole number part of the mixed number. The remainder, which results from the division, becomes the new numerator of the fractional part, while the original denominator remains unchanged. This method effectively breaks down the improper fraction (where the numerator is greater than the denominator) into a combination of a whole number and a proper fraction, which is the characteristic form of a mixed number. The other methods, such as subtracting the numbers, adding them, or multiplying the numerator by the denominator, do not facilitate the conversion process in the same way. Subtracting or adding does not simplify fractions, while multiplying would yield a value that does not represent a mixed number format at all.