1/4 is a proper fraction,
*since the numerator (top) is smaller than the denominator (bottom)
11/2 is an improper fraction,
*since the numerator (top) is larger than the denominator (bottom)
and 1/4 < 11/2
*because 11/2 = 22/4
and 1 is definitely smaller than 22 (1/4 and 22/4)
