What Are Fractions?

Fractions are a way to show parts of a whole. Think about a pizza cut into 8 slices — if you eat 3 slices, you’ve eaten \( \frac{3}{8} \) of the pizza!

A fraction has two parts:

• The top number (numerator) tells how many parts you have.
• The bottom number (denominator) tells how many parts make up the whole.

Visualizing Fractions

Fractions can be shown using shapes, like circles or rectangles, divided into equal parts. Coloring in some parts helps you see the fraction.

Comparing Fractions

If two fractions have the same denominator, the one with the bigger numerator is larger. For example, \( \frac{3}{8} \) is bigger than \( \frac{2}{8} \).

Real-World Uses

You use fractions when you share things, bake, or split up time!