Maths Fractions

All ages · Maths

A fraction tells you how many equal parts you have out of the total number of equal parts. Here a circle is split into four matching pieces and one of them is a quarter, three cups out of three are lined up with two of them filled to make two thirds, five pencils are counted with three of them chosen for three fifths, and an orange is cut into two matching pieces so each one is a half. The bottom number says how many equal parts the whole was split into, and the top number says how many of those parts you are talking about. The parts have to be the same size, otherwise the fraction does not work.

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Examples

Cutting a pizza into four equal slices and eating one of them, which is one quarter of the pizza.
Filling two of the three water bottles on the kitchen table, so two thirds of them are full.

Key takeaways

The bottom number counts the equal parts in the whole, and the top number counts the parts you have.
The pieces must all be the same size for it to be a fraction.