What is the first step in converting a mixed number to an improper fraction?

What is the first step in converting a mixed number to an improper fraction?

• A. Add the numerator to the denominator.
• B. Divide the numerator by the denominator.
• C. Subtract the numerator from the denominator.
• D. Multiply the whole number by the denominator.

Answer: (D)

When turning a mixed number into an improper fraction, you start by turning the whole part into pieces of the same size as the fraction’s denominator. The first move is to multiply the whole number by the denominator. This gives you how many units of the denominator come from the whole part. Then you add the existing numerator of the fractional part to that product to form the new numerator, keeping the same denominator. For example, 3 4/5 becomes (3 × 5) + 4 over 5, which is 19/5. The other operations wouldn’t combine the whole and fractional parts correctly: simply adding the numerator and denominator, or dividing, or subtracting, does not produce a single fraction with the proper denominator.

When turning a mixed number into an improper fraction, you start by turning the whole part into pieces of the same size as the fraction’s denominator. The first move is to multiply the whole number by the denominator. This gives you how many units of the denominator come from the whole part. Then you add the existing numerator of the fractional part to that product to form the new numerator, keeping the same denominator.

For example, 3 4/5 becomes (3 × 5) + 4 over 5, which is 19/5. The other operations wouldn’t combine the whole and fractional parts correctly: simply adding the numerator and denominator, or dividing, or subtracting, does not produce a single fraction with the proper denominator.