CHRM 0950
Culinary Math
Week 1 Math Basics
Fractions
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Fractions are numeric symbols of the
relationship between the part and the whole.
Numerator (Top # in the fraction)
Denominator (Bottom # in the fraction)
Common kitchen fractions used: 1/8, 1/4, 1/3,
1/2, 2/3, 3/4
A Fraction is…
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Part of a whole number.
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3 out of 5 slices of pie could be represented by –
3/5. (3 is the part, 5 is the whole amount)
Also can be represented as a division problem.
3÷5
Types of Fractions
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Proper (Common) Fraction.
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Where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator. For
example: 28/7, 140/70, 28/28
Mixed Number
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For example:
Improper Fraction
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Where the numerator is lower than the denominator.
½ or ¾
Contains both a whole number and fraction. For example: 4 3/8
Lowest Term Fraction
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The result of reducing a fraction so that the numerator and
denominator no longer have any common factors.
For example: 14 = 14 ÷ 14 = 1
28 28 14 2
Converting Fractions
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To convert a whole # to a fraction, simply place the
whole number over 1.
For example: 5 = 5
1
Converting improper fractions to mixed numbers:
Divide the Numerator by the Denominator. The
answer will be the whole # and the remainder (if
any) will be place over the denominator of the
original improper fraction to form the fractional part
of the mixed number.
Addition and Subtraction of Fractions
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Fractions that are going to be added or subtracted
together must have a common denominator.
Multiplication of Fractions
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This process is done by simply:
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Multiply the Numerator x Numerator
Multiply the Denominator x Denominator
Carry the numbers across for the new numerator
and denominator.
Division of Fractions
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Invert the second fraction (By placing the
denominator over the numerator.
Next change the “÷” sign to a “x” sign, then
proceed with multiplying the problem.
Decimals
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.1 = One Tenth
.01 = One Hundredth
.001 = One Thousandth
.0001 = One Ten-Thousandth
Converting a Fraction to a Decimal
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Carry out the Division problem to the tenthousandths place and truncate.
Truncate means to cut off a number at a given
decimal place without regard to rounding .
For example: 12.34567 Truncated to the
hundredths place would be 12.34
Converting Decimals to Fractions
Read the number as a decimal using place
value.
 Write the number as a fraction
 Reduce to the lowest terms.
Example: Seventy-Five one-hundredths.
75/100 = 3/4
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Percent
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A percent (%) is a ratio of a number to 100.
75/100 = 75%
.75 = 75%
Solving Word Problems
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Word problems are good math practice because they
use real-life situations.
Steps to Solving Word Problems:
1) Determine what is being solved for.
2) Decide what must be done to get the answer.
3) Perform the necessary calculations.
4) Find out if the question has been answered by
the calculations.
5) Decide whether the answer is reasonable.