Cambridge questions are written in precise mathematical English. If you know exactly what product, difference, justify and estimate ask you to do, you will not lose marks answering the wrong question.
| Term | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| numerator | The top number of a fraction: how many parts you have. | In 3/4 it is 3. |
| denominator | The bottom number: how many equal parts make the whole. | In 3/4 it is 4. |
| equivalent fractions | Fractions with the same value. | 2/4 = 1/2. |
| simplest form | No common factor except 1. | 18/24 = 3/4. |
| improper fraction | Numerator at least as big as the denominator. | 7/4. |
| mixed number | A whole number and a fraction together. | 1 3/4. |
| common denominator | The same denominator for both fractions. | For 1/2 and 1/3, use 6. |
| lowest common denominator | The LCM of the denominators. | For 4 and 6 it is 12. |
| reciprocal | A fraction turned upside down. | The reciprocal of 3/5 is 5/3. |
| cancel | Divide a numerator and denominator by a common factor. | 4/9 × 3/8 → 1/6. |
| simplify | Divide top and bottom by their HCF. | 6/8 = 3/4. |
| product | The result of multiplying. | 2/3 × 3/4 = 1/2. |
| unit fraction | A fraction with numerator 1. | 1/5. |
| proper fraction | Numerator smaller than denominator. | 3/8. |