- Divide one whole bar into two equal parts.
- Shade one part: one out of two parts is one half.
Learn
A fraction is a share of one whole.
Count all equal parts and the parts selected to read a simple fraction.
Work it out together
- Divide the same whole bar into four equal parts.
- Shade two parts: two fourths cover the same amount as one half.
Read the whole first
The denominator below the fraction line tells how many equal parts make one whole. The numerator above it counts the selected parts. If the parts are not equal, the picture cannot be read as that simple fraction.
Same share, different names
One half and two fourths cover the same share of an equal-length bar. Cutting each half into two changes the written numbers, but not the shaded amount. A larger denominator does not automatically mean a larger piece; compare the share of the whole.
Your turn
Choose the answer: Which fraction describes the shaded share?