How Fractions can be Applied in Real Life Situations

A fraction is used for the representation of equal parts of a whole body. This means when we divide a whole into small pieces. It becomes a fraction. Many ancient civilisations, including the Harappan, Greeks, Romans and the Egyptians, used a system of numerals called the fraction. Even the Vedas are said to have this system of numbering. Fractions can also be used to express decimals, making the system more accurate and useful. Fractions are said to have been first introduced at the end of the 4th century BCE by the Chinese. It later acquired the Middle East around the 10th Century and finally made its way to Europe by the 16th Century. The current representation of fractions in decimal format was formalised in 1616 by John Napier, a Scottish Mathematician. He is responsible for the addition of the decimal point. 

Notation of Fractions

A fraction is denoted in two parts. The first part of the number at the top is known as the numerator, and the number at the bottom is known as the denominator. The numerator denotes the parts in which the whole is divided, and the denominator denotes the whole.

For example,   3 ⁄ 5 

In this, 3 will be the numerator, and 5 will be the denominator.

Using Fractions in Everyday Life:

Fractions are very useful in real-life situations when accurate measurements are required. They are heavily utilised in industries such as Science, Engineering, Commerce and Finance. 

Here are a few real-world applications of fractions in everyday life:

1. Exchange of Money

The main use of fractions in everyday life is for the exchange of money. Most of our currencies contain fractions in the form of decimals. For example, in India, we use rupees, and other countries may have some other currency. So to interchange the money, we take the help of fractions. 

2. Scientific Calculations

For using fractions in everyday life, we have another example as it is also used in scientific calculations. The need for mathematical accuracy in science is monumental, and this can be achieved only using fractional values. A small change in the fraction value of a certain quantity can lead to large deviations in the results. It can even lead to many false theories being proven.

3. Following a recipe

Recipes suggest using a teaspoon of sugar, and a tablespoon of salt. Some recipes also have specific quantities to serve. If we are making the same dish to serve different people, fractions will come in use for the adjustment of the ingredients accordingly.

4. Sports

Fractions are continuously used in sports to keep a count of the variables that impact the result. In athletics, the distance jumped or thrown or the time taken to complete a race is always shown in fractions. Fractions are used to analyse the performance of a player or a team.  

5. Construction

Accurate measurements of the dimensions such as height, length and breadth are required when a certain project is under construction. Here lies another use of fractions in daily life. Fractions are used to measure these dimensions to make sure that they are accurate. There is a risk of the project failing leading to fatal results if the measurements are not accurate. 

Additionally, a lot of systems which go into the management of these buildings, such as air conditioning and fire safety, use accurate measurements to maximise potential and minimise risk.

6. Medicine

Another application of fractions in daily life is in the medical field. There are a variety of uses of fractions in the medical field. Most of the medical tests performed by medical professionals display their results in fractions or decimals. The presence of an abnormality or disease can be discovered even with a slight change in the value.

Fractions are even more important when it comes to the research and development of new drugs and vaccines, where accurate measurements of different chemicals are required to create a new drug. 

7. Measurement of weight

Another application of fractions in daily life is in the accurate measurement of weight. Accurate measurement of weight is useful during a purchase of a commodity. It suggests the amount of money required to buy the commodity. It is more useful when the price of the commodity is very high such as gold, and even a slight change in the weight changes its valuation significantly.

8. Health and Fitness

Using fractions in everyday life also includes health and fitness. It can be used to show the accurate value of a person’s weight. It is also used to calculate the exact amount of calories consumed by a person to keep track of their dietary goals. Many people even weigh the amount of food that they are eating very finely. At the gym, there are different weights of dumbbells or other weights, which are represented in decimals.      

Conclusion

A lot of ancient civilisations, including the Harappan, Greeks, Romans and the Egyptians, used a system of numerals called the fraction. The current representation of fractions in decimal format was formalised in 1616 by John Napier, a Scottish Mathematician. He is responsible for the addition of the decimal point. Fractions are very useful in real-life situations when accurate measurements are required. They are heavily utilised in industries such as Science, Engineering, Commerce and Finance. They are useful in the exchange of money, sports, fitness, and construction.