A proper fraction is a type of fraction where the numerator (the top number) is less than the denominator (the bottom number). This means that the value of a proper fraction is always less than one. For example, in the fraction 3/4, the numerator is 3, and the denominator is 4, making it a proper fraction. Proper fractions are commonly used in everyday situations, such as cooking or measuring. They help represent parts of a whole, like 1/2 of a pizza or 2/5 of a cup of sugar. Understanding proper fractions is essential for basic math and practical applications.