Equal parts and unit fractions, step by step
A shape cut into four equal pieces has quarters in it, whether or not anybody colors one in.
The question
=
This shape is cut into 2 equal parts. What is one part worth?
One equal part
pieces in all:2
1 pieceout of2
1 part=
- Count the pieces the shape was cut into: 2. Nothing is shaded here — the cutting is the whole question.
- They are all the same size, so each one is 1 piece out of 2. That word "equal" is what makes it work — 2 pieces of different sizes would have no single answer.
- One piece is a half: 1/2.
How it works.
- 01
Count the pieces the shape was cut into: 2. Nothing is shaded here — the cutting is the whole question.
- 02
They are all the same size, so each one is 1 piece out of 2. That word "equal" is what makes it work — 2 pieces of different sizes would have no single answer.
- 03
One piece is a half: 1/2.