The key difference between proper fraction and improper fraction is that in proper fraction the numerator is smaller than the denominator. In improper fractions the the numerator is equal or greater than the denominator.
What is Proper Fraction?
Proper Fraction: A proper fraction is a type of fraction in which the numerator (the top number) is smaller than the denominator (the bottom number). In other words, the value of a proper fraction is always less than 1.
Proper fractions are used to represent parts of a whole or quantities that are less than one unit.
For example, 1/2, 3/4, and 2/7 are all examples of proper fractions. When you represent proper fractions as decimals, they will always be between 0 and 1.
What is Improper Fraction?
Improper Fraction: An improper fraction is a type of fraction in which the numerator is equal to or greater than the denominator. In essence, an improper fraction represents a quantity that is equal to or greater than one whole unit.
Improper fractions are not limited to whole numbers and can represent fractions such as 5/4, 7/3, or 11/2. These fractions can be converted into mixed numbers to provide a more intuitive representation, but they are still considered improper fractions due to their numerator being equal to or greater than the denominator.
Proper Fraction vs Improper Fraction
The main differences between proper and improper fractions are given below:
| Aspect | Proper Fraction | Improper Fraction |
| Numerator | Smaller than the denominator | Equal to or greater than the denominator |
| Value | Always less than 1 | Equal to or greater than 1 |
| Examples | 1/6, 3/9, 2/9 | 5/4, 7/3, 11/2 |
| Decimal Representation | Between 0 and 1 | Greater than or equal to 1 |
| Conversion to Mixed Number | Usually represented as mixed numbers | Can be converted to mixed numbers |