A mixed number like 1 1/3 is just a whole number and a fraction hanging out together. But an improper fraction? That’s where the top number is bigger than the bottom number—like a daring acrobat who says, “I’m not afraid to go over the top!”
To turn 1 1/3 into an improper fraction, you literally multiply and add. Take the whole number (1), multiply it by the denominator (3), and then add the numerator (1). That gives you 4 over 3. So, 1 1/3 = 4/3. See? One quick move, and you’ve got a fraction that means exactly the same thing, but looks bolder.