Learn Before
Definition

Proper Fraction

A proper fraction is a fraction in which the numerator is strictly less than the denominator (comparing their absolute values), meaning the fraction's absolute value is less than 11. When the fraction is positive — for example, 15\frac{1}{5}, 3100\frac{3}{100}, or 710\frac{7}{10} — its value lies between 00 and 11 on the number line. When the fraction is negative — such as 45-\frac{4}{5} — its value lies between 1-1 and 00. Proper fractions arise naturally when converting a decimal that has no whole-number part (i.e., the digit to the left of the decimal point is 00) into fraction form, since the resulting numerator will always be less than the power-of-ten denominator.

0

1

Updated 2026-04-21

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.1 Foundations - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Math

Prealgebra

Related
Learn After