Level 2 · Ages 8–11
Picture a hot pizza on the table. There are four of you, and everyone wants the same thing: a fair share. You cut the pizza into 4 equal parts and each person takes one. What you just did is a fraction: each part is one quarter of the pizza, written 1/4.
A fraction is two numbers telling a sharing story. The bottom number is called the denominator: it says how many equal parts we cut. The top number is the numerator: it says how many parts we take. In 3/4, we cut into 4 equal parts and take 3 of them.
Watch out for the most important word: equal. If you cut a cake into 4 pieces of different sizes, one piece is not necessarily a quarter. A fraction only makes sense if all the parts are exactly the same size.
To compare fractions, you have a great landmark: one half, written 1/2. If you take 3 parts out of 8, is that more or less than half? Half of 8 parts is 4 parts. Since 3 is smaller than 4, 3/8 is smaller than 1/2. This little reflex will serve you for a very long time.
In this lesson you will learn to read, draw and compare simple fractions. Take your time, picture the pizza, and everything will become clear.
Read it again any time, including while you work through the exercises.
Picture a hot pizza on the table. There are four of you, and everyone wants the same thing: a fair share. You cut the pizza into 4 equal parts and each person takes one. What you just did is a fraction: each part is one quarter of the pizza, written 1/4.
A fraction is two numbers telling a sharing story. The bottom number is called the denominator: it says how many equal parts we cut. The top number is the numerator: it says how many parts we take. In 3/4, we cut into 4 equal parts and take 3 of them.
Watch out for the most important word: equal. If you cut a cake into 4 pieces of different sizes, one piece is not necessarily a quarter. A fraction only makes sense if all the parts are exactly the same size.
To compare fractions, you have a great landmark: one half, written 1/2. If you take 3 parts out of 8, is that more or less than half? Half of 8 parts is 4 parts. Since 3 is smaller than 4, 3/8 is smaller than 1/2. This little reflex will serve you for a very long time.
In this lesson you will learn to read, draw and compare simple fractions. Take your time, picture the pizza, and everything will become clear.
A pie is cut into 4 equal parts. You eat 3 of them. What fraction of the pie did you eat?
4 parts égales
First I count how many equal parts the pie is cut into: 4. That will be the bottom number, the denominator.
3 parts mangées
Then I count how many parts I take: 3. That will be the top number, the numerator.
3/4
I write the fraction: 3 parts taken out of 4 equal parts, so 3/4. I say: three quarters.
Result: You ate 3/4 of the pie.
Is the fraction 3/8 bigger or smaller than 1/2?
8 ÷ 2 = 4
I find half of 8 parts: that is 4 parts. So 1/2 is the same as 4/8.
3 < 4
I compare: I take 3 parts, and half would be 4. I take less than half.
3/8 < 1/2
I conclude: 3/8 is smaller than 1/2.
Result: 3/8 < 1/2