What are fractions called if their numerators are larger than their denominators?

Fractions with numerators larger than their denominators are known as improper fractions. In an improper fraction, the value is greater than one, which can often represent a quantity that exceeds a whole unit. For example, in the fraction 9/4, the numerator (9) is greater than the denominator (4), indicating that this fraction represents more than one whole.

This definition sets improper fractions apart from other types of fractions, such as proper fractions, where the numerator is less than the denominator, meaning the fraction is less than one whole unit. Mixed numbers, on the other hand, combine whole numbers with fractions, while simple fractions refer to any fraction that consists of an integer numerator and a non-zero integer denominator, without specifying their relationship in size. Understanding these distinctions is important for recognizing and working with different types of fractions in mathematics.