Understanding Fractions

How do you write a fraction?

A whole object or group can be divided into equal-sized parts. When you want to tell about some of the parts, you write a fraction.

A fraction is a number that names part of a whole object or group.

A fraction can be written using words or numbers.

Example 1: To write a fraction with words:

  • Count the total equal-sized parts in the flag.
    There are 4 equal-sized parts in the flag.
    Each part is a fourth of the whole flag.

                                   

  • Count the number of blue parts in the flag.
    1 of the 4 flag parts is blue.

The fraction one-fourth describes how much of the flag is blue.

A fraction written with numbers is made up of two numbers with a line between them. The line is called a fraction bar.