Fractions | Class 6 Mathematics Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 2 min read
Fractions – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Fractions from Class 6 Mathematics, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
7.9 A Pinch of History
This section provides a historical perspective on fractions, highlighting their origin and development in ancient India. Fractions were called 'bhinna' (broken) or 'bhaga'/'ansha' (part or piece) in Sanskrit. The notation for fractions with numerator over denominator was used in the Bakshali manuscript around 300 CE, similar to modern notation. Indian mathematicians like Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Sridharacharya, and Mahaviracharya contributed to the development of rules for arithmetic operations on fractions. Brahmagupta's method for adding and subtracting fractions, involving finding common denominators and adding/subtracting numerators, is still used today. The section also mentions that other ancient civilizations like Egyptians and Babylonians used mainly unit fractions, while India introduced general fractions. The transmission of Indian fraction concepts to Europe via Arabs led to their global adoption. A puzzle about expressing 1 as a sum of different fractional units is also presented to stimulate thinking.
📊 Diagram: Images illustrating the puzzle of adding different fractional units to get 1; historical notes on fraction notation; See figure_1, figure_2 (contextual).
🧪 Activity: Puzzle to find different fractional units that add up to 1, exploring sums of two, three, and four different unit fractions.
🔗 Connection: Summarizes the chapter and connects to broader mathematical history and concepts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fraction? Define numerator and denominator with an example.
A fraction is a number that represents parts of a whole when it is divided into equal parts. The numerator is the number above the line that shows how many parts are taken, and the denominator is the number below the line that shows into how many equal parts the whole is divided. For example, in the fraction 1/4, 1 is the numerator and 4 is the denominator.
Look at a chocolate bar divided into 4 equal parts with one part shaded. Which fraction represents the shaded part?
1/4
Define a proper fraction and give an example.
A proper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is less than the denominator, meaning the fraction is less than one. For example, 3/4 is a proper fraction.
Which of the following is an improper fraction?
5/3
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