Fractions of shapes, step by step
A fraction is easiest to meet as a picture: a shape cut into equal parts with some of them shaded.
The question
=
Name the fraction
pieces in all:6
shaded:5
not shaded:1← not the bottom number
pieces in all:6
shaded:5
- Count the BOTTOM number first, and count every piece — shaded and unshaded together. It is how many the whole was cut into: 6.
- Only now count the shaded ones: 5. The number NOT shaded (1) is also sitting there in the picture, and writing that underneath is the usual mistake.
- Shaded over total: 5/6.
How it works.
- 01
Count the BOTTOM number first, and count every piece — shaded and unshaded together. It is how many the whole was cut into: 6.
- 02
Only now count the shaded ones: 5. The number NOT shaded (1) is also sitting there in the picture, and writing that underneath is the usual mistake.
- 03
Shaded over total: 5/6.