improper fraction

/ɪmˌprɑːpər ˈfrækʃən/

noun

  1. A fraction whose numerator is greater than or equal to its denominator, so its value is one or more whole units.

    B1

    countable

    • "Five-fourths is an improper fraction because five is greater than four."B1
    • "Write 2 1/3 as an improper fraction."A2
    • "You can rewrite an improper fraction such as 9/4 as the mixed number 2¼."B1

  2. Loosely, a fraction that is not written in its simplest or proper form; sometimes used informally for any fraction that looks unusual or awkward.

    B2

    informal

    • "The teacher jokingly called 12/8 an improper fraction before simplifying it to 3/2."B2

Collocations

convert an improper fractionwrite as an improper fractionimproper fraction to mixed numberimproper fraction and mixed number

Word family

proper fractionmixed numberfractionnumeratordenominator