Introduction to Fractions

What Is a Fraction?#

A fraction is a part of a whole. When we divide something into equal parts, each part is a fraction of the whole. Fractions are all around us in everyday life!

Everyday Examples of Fractions#

• You cut a pizza into 4 equal slices and eat 1 slice. You ate one quarter (1/4) of the pizza.
• You split a granola bar in half with a friend. You each get one half (1/2).
• A chocolate bar is divided into 3 equal pieces. You take 1 piece. You have one third (1/3).

The Most Important Rule: EQUAL Parts#

For something to be a fraction, the parts must be equal in size. If you cut a pizza and one slice is huge and one is tiny, they are NOT equal parts — and they are NOT fractions!

Equal parts means every piece is exactly the same size.

Reading and Writing Fractions#

A fraction is written with two numbers and a line between them:

numerator → 1 denominator → 4

Written as: 1/4 (read as "one fourth" or "one quarter")

• The numerator (top number) tells us how many parts we have.
• The denominator (bottom number) tells us how many equal parts the whole was divided into.

The Three Main Fractions to Learn in Grade 2#

• One half (1/2): the whole is divided into 2 equal parts; you have 1 of them.
• One third (1/3): the whole is divided into 3 equal parts; you have 1 of them.
• One quarter/one fourth (1/4): the whole is divided into 4 equal parts; you have 1 of them.

These three fractions are the building blocks of all fraction understanding. Once you know them well, you will be ready to explore more fractions in later grades!

Fractions are just a way of talking about equal sharing — and equal sharing is something you do every day!