What Are Fractions?

What Are Fractions?

KidsParentsGrade 2-35 min read
Evelyn Jackson
Evelyn Jackson

Published May 3, 2026



🎯 What Will We Learn Today?



Have you ever shared a pizza or a candy bar? Then you've used fractions! Today we'll learn what fractions are and how to read them.

📚 What Is a Fraction?



A fraction describes part of a whole. It tells us how many equal parts we have out of the total number of equal parts.

When we write ½, it means "one out of two equal parts" — one half.

📖 Parts of a Fraction



`
numerator → 1 (how many parts we have)
───
denominator → 2 (total number of equal parts)
`

  • Numerator (top): How many parts we're talking about

  • Denominator (bottom): How many equal parts the whole is divided into


  • 🍕 Fraction Examples



    A pizza cut into 4 equal slices:
  • 1 slice = ¼ (one quarter)

  • 2 slices = 2/4 = ½ (one half)

  • 3 slices = ¾ (three quarters)

  • 4 slices = 4/4 = 1 (the whole pizza)


  • 📊 Common Fractions



    | Fraction | Name | Visual |
    |----------|------|--------|
    | ½ | One half | ◐ |
    | ⅓ | One third | ◴ |
    | ¼ | One quarter | ◷ |
    | ¾ | Three quarters | ◵ |

    💡 Key Rules



  • The bigger the denominator, the smaller each piece

  • ½ > ⅓ > ¼ — bigger denominator = smaller fraction!

  • All parts must be equal size


  • 📝 Practice Problems



  • What fraction of a pizza is 1 slice out of 6 equal slices?

  • Which is bigger: ½ or ⅓? Why?

  • If a candy bar has 8 pieces and you eat 2, what fraction did you eat?

  • Write the fraction for "three out of five."

  • True or false: 4/4 equals 1 whole.


  • 🎮 Play a Game!



    Practice fractions with Dirt Bike Fractions — race while learning!