Understanding Fractions

This is a lesson for 3rd grade math about the concept of a fraction. Students color parts
to illustrate fractions, write fractions from visual models and from number lines, and
learn to draw pie models for some common fractions. Lastly they divide shapes into
equal parts themselves and show the given fraction.

Fractions are formed when we have a WHOLE that is divided into so

many EQUAL parts.

A whole is divided 1
A whole is divided 1
into two equal parts. into six equal parts.
2 6
ONE part is one half. ONE part is one sixth.

A whole is divided Four parts are colored, and

1 the whole has four equal 4
into ten equal parts.
parts.
10 4
ONE part is one tenth. Four fourths.

Three parts are colored.

Two parts are colored, and
There are seven equal 2
3 the whole has five equal parts.
parts.
5
7
Two fifths. 
Three sevenths.
 

The number ABOVE the line tells HOW MANY PARTS

3
we have (the colored parts).
8 The number BELOW the line tells how many EQUAL parts
the whole is divided into.
“three eighths”
After halves, we use ordinal numbers to name the fractional parts
  (thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, and so on).

1. Color the parts to illustrate the fraction.

 f. 
a.  b.  d.  e. 
c. 

7 6 4 4 2 4

8 10 6 5 4 7 
 

l. 
g.  h.  i.  j.  k. 

2 11 5 1 9 2

6 12 9 5 10 7

2. Write the fractions, and read them aloud.

d.   

a.       b.        c.       

    

e.     f.   
h.   
g.       

         
    

i.        j.        k.    l.       

    

How many parts is this “whole” divided into?

Count. You should get 8 parts.
Don't count the little lines. Count the “units” or the parts. One of them is like
this: 
How many of them are colored?
You should get 3 colored parts out of 8 in total. So, the fraction 3
is    .
8

3. Write the fractions, and read them aloud.

a.   b.  

c.   d.  

e.   f.  

How to draw pie models

Halves: split the Thirds: draw lines at 12 Fourths: First draw halves,
circle o'clock, then
with a straight line. 4 o'clock, and 8 o'clock. split those like a cross
pattern.

 
Fifths: Draw like a Sixths: First draw Eighths: First draw fourths, 
man thirds, then split those. then split those.
doing jumping jacks.

4. Draw the pie models and color the parts to illustrate the fractions.

2 2 3 6
a. b. c. d.
3   5   6   8  

4 3 1 7
e. f. g. h.
5   8   3   8  

5. Color in the whole shape = 1 whole. Then write 1 whole as a fraction.

a.   1 9 b.   1 d.   1

=    c.   1 =    e.   1 =   
=    =   
9
6. Divide the shapes into equal parts, and color some of the parts, to show the
fractions.

1    
3
a. b 2 c 1 d.
 
2 . . 4  
2 3

     
1
e 3 f. g 4 h 3
. 6   . .
3 5 4

7. Divide the shapes into equal parts. Shade ONE part. Write the area of that part
as a fraction
    of the whole area.

a. Divide the shape into two equal b. Divide the shape into three equal
parts. parts.

shaded area 1 shaded area

 of the whole area  of the whole area
=    =   
2

c. Divide the shape into six equal d. Divide the shape into four equal
parts. parts.
 shaded area shaded area
 of the whole area  of the whole area
=    =   

e. Divide the shape into three equal f. Divide the shape into five equal
parts. parts.

shaded area shaded area

 of the whole area  of the whole area
=    =   

g. Divide the shape into four equal h. Divide the shape into four equal
parts. parts.

shaded area shaded area

 of the whole area  of the whole area
=    =   

This lesson will help you develop an understanding of division by:

• explaining that a fraction represents a part of a whole
• comparing fractions of the same whole that have like denominators

A fraction is a number that describes a relationship between a part (represented

by the numerator) and a whole (represented by the denominator). Although you
see two numbers, you have to think of one idea, the relationship.

Fractions as Part of a Whole

A fraction can be used to name a part of a whole.

For example, the following circle is divided into four equal parts: blue, green,
yellow and red. Each part, or color, of the circle represents 1/4 (one-fourth) of
the whole circle. 4/4 or 1 represents the whole circle.

You use numerators and denominators to name fractions. The numerator (top
number) of the fraction tells the number of parts being considered. The
denominator (bottom number) of the fraction tells the number of parts in a
whole.

The following diagram shows an example of a fraction indicating the

numerator, denominator, and fraction bar. Scroll down the page for more
examples and solutions of fractions.

Fractions: Parts of a Whole

Fractions are equal size parts of a whole.
Learn how to represent fractions in different ways by dividing the same whole
into equal parts.
Learn how to write and name a fraction by using numbers called the numerator
or top number and denominator or bottom number.
Learn that the larger the denominator, the smaller the fractional parts by using
models and looking at real world examples.

 Show Step-by-step Solutions

Fractions-fractions song
Fractions - they're parts of a whole.
Sing about halves, thirds, quarters, numerators and denominators.
Lyrics:
Fractions, fractions,
They're parts of a whole,
Fractions, fractions,
They're what I know...
They're equal pieces,
They're parts of a pie,
Fractions, fractions,
They're alright!

Introduction to Fractions
What is a fraction?
A fraction represents part of a whole. When something is broken up into a number of parts, the
fraction shows how many of those parts you have.

Pictures of Fractions
Sometimes the best way to learn about fractions is through a picture. See the pictures below to
see how the whole of a circle can be broken up into different fractions. The first picture shows
the whole and then the other pictures show fractions of that whole.
Numerator and Denominator
When writing a fraction there are two main parts: the numerator and the denominator. The
numerator is how many parts you have. The denominator is how many parts the whole was
divided into.

Fractions are written with the numerator over the denominator and a line in between them.

Types of Fractions
There are three different types of fractions:

1. Proper Fractions - A proper fraction is one where the numerator is less than the denominator.
Note that a proper fraction is always less than one.

2. Improper Fractions - An improper fraction is one where the numerator is greater than the
denominator. Note that an improper fraction is always greater than one.
3. Mixed Fractions - A mixed fraction had both a whole number part and a fractional part.

What is Fraction?
Fractions represent equal parts of a whole or a collection. 
Fraction of a whole: When we divide a whole into equal parts, each part is a fraction of
the whole. 
For example, 
 
Fraction of a collection: Fractions also represent parts of a set or collection. 
For example, 
There are total of 5 children.
3 out of 5 are girls. So, the fraction of girls is three-fifths ( 3⁄5 ).
2 out of 5 are boys. So, the fraction of boys is two-fifths ( 2⁄5 ).
 

Fraction notation
A fraction has two parts. The number on the top of the line is called the numerator. It
tells how many equal parts of the whole or collection are taken.  The number below the
line is called the denominator.  It shows the total divisible number of equal parts the
whole into or the total number of equal parts which are there in a collection. 

 
Fractions on a number line: Fractions can be represented on a number line, as shown
below. 
 
For examples,
 

Real life examples

The most common examples of fractions from real life are equal slices of pizza, fruit,
cake, a bar of chocolate, etc.

Non-examples
When the parts of the whole are unevenly divided, they don’t form fractions.
  

Types of fractions
Unit fractions
Fractions with numerator 1 are called unit fractions. Proper fractions
Fractions in which the numerator is less than the de
are called proper fractions.

Improper fractions Mixed fractions

Fractions in which the numerator is more than or equal to the Mixed fractions consist of a whole number along wi
denominator are called improper fractions. fraction.
 
  Fun Facts
 The word ‘fraction’ has been derived from the Latin ‘fractus’ which means “broken”.
 Fraction has been into existence from the Egyptian era which is known to be one of the oldest c
the world. However, fractions were not regarded as numbers, in fact, they were used to compare th
numbers with one another.