Helping little sister with homework, I do not remember unit fractions. Can anyone help me split 4/15 into a unit fraction? I am not looking for an answer, but I want to know how it's done.

Question

Helping little sister with homework, I do not remember unit fractions.  Can anyone help me split 4/15 into a unit fraction? I am not looking for an answer, but I want to know how it's done.

timaashorty · Answer

I don't even think they taught me this when i was little

shamil98 · Answer

Unit fraction is when the numerator is one and the denominator is a positive integer.
So break up the fraction into fourths.

shamil98 · Answer

What two fractions make 4/15 *?

timaashorty · Answer

slow down you're teaching my sister. lol

timaashorty · Answer

2/15 + 2/15

shamil98 · Answer

The numerator has to be 1.

timaashorty · Answer

for both fractions?

shamil98 · Answer

1/15 + 1/15 + 1/15 + 1/15
or 
1/4 + 1/60

timaashorty · Answer

you could put the first one right as an answer because it's more simple ?

shamil98 · Answer

Well, i'm explaining this badly..

timaashorty · Answer

And she said thanks. now i got it I'll explain it to her.

timaashorty · Answer

does it have to be two fractions only or it can be four too ?

shamil98 · Answer

I'm not quite sure I just researched this right now, but 1/15 is a unit fraction so yes it should be.

timaashorty · Answer

Me too, I just don't get about the second answer 1/4 + 1/60. I checked and thats correct, but very confused on how they get that. I know to add a fraction with different denominators means you have to change the denominator to the same. Does that mean you do the opposite?

shamil98 · Answer

Oh wait I just figured it out.
once you split into fourths
1/15 + 1/15 + 1/15 + 1/5
you notice that 
you have
1/15 + 3/15
which can be reduced to
1/15 + 1/5
giving you one of the unit fractions

shamil98 · Answer

1/15 + 1/15 + 1/15 + 1/15*

timaashorty · Answer

Okay i see now! thanks