The number on top is the numerator and shows the number of parts you are dealing with. The number on the bottom is the denominator and shows the total number of equal parts that something has been ...

You can simplify a fraction if the numerator (top number) and denominator (bottom number) can both be divided by the same number. Six twelfths can be simplified to one half, or 1 over 2 because ...

multiplying fractions is no problem--top times top (numerator multiplied by numerator) over bottom times bottom (denominator multiplied by denominator)." ...