In this lesson, we'll learn how to write fractions in words.
The names of the unit fractions with denominators from one to twenty are listed below.
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Note the following:
is commonly referred to as "one-quarter."
Aside from "one-whole," "one-half," and "one-third," the fraction names follow a pattern, e.g., "one-fourth, one-fifth, one-sixth, one-seventh,...". Understanding this pattern makes it easier to remember.
Watch Out! Don't forget the hyphen!
There is a systematic way to write fractions in words. We'll cover some key ideas now, as this will help us later.
Let's consider the following fraction:
We write the fraction in words as follows:
The numerator is so we write "one":
"one"
The denominator is so we write "ninth":
"one ninth"
Finally, since there is no hyphen, we place one between the two words:
"one-ninth"
Therefore, the fraction written in words is one-ninth.
Write the fraction in words.
Let's write the fraction in words:
The numerator is so we write "one":
"one"
The denominator is so we write "fourteenth":
"one fourteenth"
Finally, since there is no hyphen, we place one between the two words:
"one-fourteenth"
Therefore, the fraction written in words is one-fourteenth.
Write the fraction $\dfrac16$ in words.
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a
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one-sixth |
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b
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oneth-six |
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c
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sixth ones |
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d
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six-ones |
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e
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one six |
Write the fraction $\dfrac1{19}$ in words.
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a
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one-nineteenth |
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b
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nineteenth |
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c
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one-nineteen |
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d
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nineteenth one |
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e
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nineteen ones |
There are parts of the shape in total, and part is shaded. So, the fraction model shows which we write in words as follows:
The numerator is so we write "one":
"one"
The denominator is so we write "tenth":
"one tenth"
Finally, since there is no hyphen, we place one between the two words:
"one-tenth"
Therefore, the fraction written in words is one-tenth.
In words, which fraction is represented by the model above?
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a
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one-sixth |
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b
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sixth-ones |
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c
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oneth sixteen |
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d
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one-sixteen |
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e
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one-sixteenth |
In words, which fraction is represented by the model above?
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a
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oneth seven |
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b
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one eight |
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c
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one-eighth |
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d
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one-seventh |
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e
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one-seven |
Unit fractions with denominators from to also follow a pattern.
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Watch Out! We have excluded from our tables. Fractions whose denominators are multiples of follow a different pattern. We'll discuss these separately.
The pattern in these tables extends to denominators of (excluding multiples of ten). For example:
in words is "one fifty-second."
in words is "one sixty-fifth."
in words is "one eighty-eighth."
When writing fractions in words, it's a good idea to approach this systematically. Let's see an example.
Write the fraction in words.
Let's write the fraction in words:
The numerator is so we write "one":
"one"
The denominator is so we write "seventy-third":
"one seventy-third"
Since there is already a hyphen, we do nothing else.
Therefore, the fraction written in words is one seventy-third.
Write the fraction $\dfrac{1}{22}$ in words.
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a
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one twenty-second |
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b
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one twenty-two |
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c
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one-twentieth-second |
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d
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oneth-twenty-two |
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e
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oneth-twenty second |
Write the fraction $\dfrac{1}{43}$ in words.
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a
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one forty three |
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b
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one fortieth three |
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c
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one-fortieth-third |
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d
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oneth forty third |
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e
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one forty-third |
Finally, unit fractions whose denominators are multiples of ten have their own names. We list the most common below:
| fraction | name |
| one-tenth | |
| one-twentieth | |
| one-thirtieth | |
| one-fortieth | |
| one-fiftieth | |
| one-sixtieth | |
| one-seventieth | |
| one-eightieth | |
| one-ninetieth | |
| one-hundredth | |
| one-thousandth |
Write the fraction in words.
Let's write the fraction in words:
The numerator is so we write "one":
"one"
The denominator is so we write "hundredth":
"one hundredth"
Finally, since there is no hyphen, we place one between the two words:
"one-hundredth"
Therefore, the fraction written in words is one-hundredth.
Write the fraction $\dfrac{1}{50}$ in words.
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a
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oneth-fifty |
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b
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fifty |
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c
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one-fiftieth |
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d
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one fifty |
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e
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fiftieth |
In words, which fraction is represented by the model above?
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a
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two-tenth |
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b
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one-twenty |
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c
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one twenty-one |
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d
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one-twentieth |
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e
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oneth twenty |