Introduction to Fractions

In a Nutshell

A fraction splits something into equal parts. The bottom says how many parts; the top says how many you have.

A fraction is written as ab\frac{a}{b}. The number on top is the numerator (how many parts you are talking about). The number on the bottom is the denominator (how many equal parts the whole is split into).

The fraction wall below shows one whole at the top, then each row divides the same whole into more and more equal pieces. You can see straight away that 12\frac{1}{2} covers the same length as 24\frac{2}{4} or 36\frac{3}{6}.

Fractions can also sit on a number line. 12\frac{1}{2} is exactly halfway between 0 and 1. 34\frac{3}{4} is three quarters of the way from 0 to 1.

Fraction wall Horizontal bars stacked vertically. The top bar is one whole. Below it, bars are divided into halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, sixths, eighths, tenths, and twelfths, so you can see which fractions are equivalent.

Click any segment to highlight it and see which fractions in other rows line up with it. A vertical guide line shows where the edges match.

Watch it work

Question: What fraction of the shape is shaded if 3 out of 8 equal parts are coloured in?

Have a go

Q1. A pizza is cut into 6 equal slices. You eat 2 slices. What fraction of the pizza have you eaten?

Q2. Write 510\frac{5}{10} as a simpler fraction.

Q3. Place 34\frac{3}{4} on a number line from 0 to 1. Is it closer to 0 or to 1?

Q4. A class has 30 pupils. 12 of them walk to school. What fraction of the class walks to school?