The idea, step by step
One part must be an equal share
A whole can be a strip, a shape or one collection. To name a fraction, first share the whole into equal parts. Equal parts have the same size, not just different names.
A unit fraction is one of those equal parts. One of six equal parts is one sixth. The bottom number tells how many equal parts make the whole.
Read the two numbers
In , the 1 tells us that one part is chosen. The 6 tells us that six equal parts make the whole. Say “one sixth”.
Before writing a fraction, check the whole and check the equal shares. If a ribbon is cut into one short piece and one long piece, neither piece is one half.
A common trap
Any one piece of a shape is a unit fraction with the number of pieces underneath.
Instead: The pieces must be equal parts of the same whole before that fraction name works.
See the thinking
One piece of a strip
A strip has 5 equal pieces. One is coloured. What fraction is coloured?
- There are 5 equal pieces in the whole, so the denominator is 5.
- Exactly 1 piece is coloured, so the numerator is 1.
Is it a half?
A sandwich is cut into 2 pieces. One piece is much larger. Has each person received one half?
- A half must be one of 2 equal parts.
- These pieces are unequal, so counting 2 pieces is not enough.
Check your understanding
One whole is shared into 8 equal parts. Name one part.
Show answer
One eighth, .
The 8 counts all equal parts; the 1 counts the single part chosen.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- A strip has 3 equal parts. One is shaded. Write the shaded fraction.
- A shape has 10 equal parts. Name one part in words.
- What does the 5 mean in ?
- Write the coloured fraction in this strip.
- A cake is cut into 4 pieces of different sizes. Is every piece one quarter? Explain.
- Three children share a ribbon equally. What fraction of the ribbon does each receive?
Read the worked solutions
- A strip has 3 equal parts. One is shaded. Write the shaded fraction.
Count 3 equal parts in the whole. Choose 1.
. - A shape has 10 equal parts. Name one part in words.
There are 10 equal parts, so one part is one tenth.
One tenth. - What does the 5 mean in ?
The denominator counts the equal parts of the whole.
Five equal parts make the whole. - Write the coloured fraction in this strip.
There are 4 equal parts and 1 is coloured.
. - A cake is cut into 4 pieces of different sizes. Is every piece one quarter? Explain.
Equal size is needed as well as 4 pieces.
No. Quarters must be 4 equal parts. - Three children share a ribbon equally. What fraction of the ribbon does each receive?
The whole ribbon is divided into 3 equal shares. Each child receives one.
of the ribbon.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Unit fractions; halves/thirds/quarters/fifths/tenths; multiples; completing a whole.
Official curriculum source ↗