Understanding Fractions
Aligned to 3.NF.A.1 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
What this lesson teaches
A fraction names equal parts of a whole. The bottom number (denominator) tells how many equal parts; the top (numerator) tells how many we have.
Worked examples
Example 1
A pizza cut into 4 equal slices: 1 slice is 1/4, and 3 slices is 3/4 of the pizza.
Example 2
A chocolate bar broken into 6 equal pieces: 5 pieces is 5/6 of the bar, and all 6 pieces is 6/6, which is the whole bar.
Example 3
The parts have to be equal. A pizza cut into 4 wildly different slices does not give you fourths, even though there are 4 pieces.
Practice questions
- What fraction is shaded if 2 of 6 equal parts are colored?
- Draw a shape showing 3/4.
- Which is more: 1/2 or 1/4 of the same pizza?
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Comprensión de Fracciones
Una fracción nombra partes iguales de un entero. El número de abajo (denominador) indica cuántas partes iguales hay en total; el de arriba (numerador) indica cuántas partes tenemos.
Ejemplo 1: Una pizza cortada en 4 rebanadas iguales: 1 rebanada es 1/4, y 3 rebanadas son 3/4 de la pizza.
Ejemplo 2: Una barra de chocolate partida en 6 pedazos iguales: 5 pedazos son 5/6 de la barra, y los 6 pedazos son 6/6, o sea la barra entera.
Ejemplo 3: Las partes tienen que ser iguales. Una pizza cortada en 4 rebanadas muy distintas no te da cuartos, aunque haya 4 pedazos.
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