Partitioning Shapes: Halves and Fourths — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the correct answer for each question.
1. Emma cuts a sandwich into 4 equal pieces and eats 3. What fraction is left?
A) 1 half
B) 1 fourth
C) 2 fourths
D) 3 fourths
B is correct because 4 minus 3 equals 1 piece left, which is 1 fourth.
2. A circle is divided into 2 parts, but one part is bigger. Are the parts halves?
A) Yes, always
B) No, because the parts are not equal
C) Yes, because there are 2 parts
D) Only if it is a circle
B is correct because halves must be 2 equal parts. If one part is bigger, the parts are not equal and cannot be halves.
3. Jake has 20 marbles. He gives half to his sister and one fourth of the original to his brother. How many does he keep?
A) 5
B) 10
C) 15
D) 4
A is correct because half of 20 is 10 given to his sister, one fourth of 20 is 5 given to his friend, and 20 minus 10 minus 5 equals 5 kept.
4. How many fourths does it take to equal one half?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
B is correct because 2 fourths equal one half, since 2 out of 4 equal parts is the same as 1 out of 2 equal parts.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Four children share 8 cookies equally. Each child gets 2 cookies.
8 divided by 4 equals 2 cookies per child.
2. A square is split into fourths. 2 fourths are shaded. That is the same as 1 half shaded.
2 fourths is equivalent to 1 half because 2 out of 4 equals 1 out of 2.
3. If one fourth of a number is 3, the whole number is 12.
If one fourth is 3, then the whole is 3 times 4, which equals 12.
4. Two children share a pizza equally. Then one child shares her half with a friend. Now each of those 2 friends has one fourth of the pizza.
Splitting a half into 2 equal parts gives 2 fourths, so each person gets one fourth.
5. Noah has 16 crayons. He gives half to Ava. Ava then gives half of hers to Liam. Liam has 4 crayons.
Half of 16 is 8 for Ava. Half of 8 is 4 for Liam.