Understand the idea.
Equal means a fair share
Imagine sharing one sandwich fairly between two people. Each person must get the same amount. These two equal shares are halves. Cutting a whole into two pieces does not make halves if one piece is larger.
Count the equal parts
Look at the whole before naming a part. Four equal shares are quarters; eight equal shares are eighths. Count every part, including any unshaded parts. Then check that the shares are equal, rather than just counting the cuts.
See the method in action.
Choose the fair quarters
Which strip is divided into quarters: A or B?
Worked solution
- 1
Count the pieces in each strip.
Both A and B have four pieces, so counting alone does not decide.
- 2
Compare the sizes of the pieces.
A has four equal shares; B has some wider shares and some narrower shares.
- 3
Choose strip A.
Each equal share in A is one of four equal parts of the whole: one quarter.
Strip A.
Name one part
A sandwich is cut into eight equal pieces. What is one piece called?
Worked solution
- 1
Identify the whole and its shares.
The whole sandwich has been shared into eight equal pieces.
- 2
Name one of those pieces.
One of eight equal parts is one eighth.
One eighth.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
A whole is split into four equal parts. What is one part called?
Show answer & reasoning
One quarter.
There are four equal parts in the whole. One of those parts is one quarter, written .
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- A whole biscuit is split into two equal pieces. Name one piece.
- A paper strip is cut into eight equal pieces. Name one piece.
- Which strip shows quarters, A or B? Explain.
- How many equal halves make one whole?
- How many equal quarters make one whole?
- Sam cuts a cake into one large piece and one small piece. Are the pieces halves? Explain.
Read the worked solutions
- A whole biscuit is split into two equal pieces. Name one piece.
There are two equal parts.
One half. - A paper strip is cut into eight equal pieces. Name one piece.
There are eight equal parts.
One eighth. - Which strip shows quarters, A or B? Explain.
B has four pieces, but the pieces are not the same size.
A. Its four parts are equal. - How many equal halves make one whole?
A half is one of two equal parts.
2 halves. - How many equal quarters make one whole?
Four quarter-sized parts rebuild the whole.
4 quarters. - Sam cuts a cake into one large piece and one small piece. Are the pieces halves? Explain.
The whole must be split into two equal parts to make halves.
No. The two pieces are unequal.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Equal parts; repeated halving; fractions of shapes, objects and measures.
Official curriculum source ↗