Understanding Fractions

Learn what fractions are, how to read them, and how to visualize them on a number line.

What is a Fraction?

A fraction represents a part of a whole. When you cut a pizza into 8 equal slices and eat 3 of them, you have eaten 3/8 of the pizza.

Parts of a Fraction

Every fraction has two parts: the numerator (top number) which tells how many parts you have, and the denominator (bottom number) which tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

Fractions on a Number Line

A number line is one of the best ways to see where fractions live. If we divide the space between 0 and 1 into 4 equal parts, each part is 1/4. The first mark is 1/4, the second is 2/4 (= 1/2), the third is 3/4, and the fourth is 4/4 (= 1).

Equivalent Fractions

Two fractions are equivalent if they represent the same amount. For example: 1/2 = 2/4 = 4/8 and 1/3 = 2/6 = 3/9. To find equivalent fractions, multiply or divide both the numerator and denominator by the same number.