Fractions: Halves, Thirds, and Fourths — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The fraction 12 is read as one half.
The fraction 12 is read as one half because the whole has been divided into 2 equal parts and one of them is being named.
2. The fraction 13 is read as one third.
When a whole is split into 3 equal parts, each part is one third, so 13 is read as one third.
3. The fraction 14 is read as one fourth.
With 4 equal parts in a whole, each piece is one fourth, so 14 is read as one fourth.
4. In the fraction 14, the number on the bottom is 4.
The bottom number, called the denominator, tells how many equal parts the whole has, and in 14 that bottom number is 4.
5. In the fraction 12, the number on the top is 1.
The top number in a fraction is called the numerator and tells how many parts you have; in 12 the numerator is 1.
6. A sandwich cut into 3 equal parts gives 3 thirds.
Cutting a sandwich into 3 equal parts makes 3 thirds, since each part is one-third and there are 3 of them in the whole.
7. One-half of 6 crayons is 3 crayons.
Half of 6 means splitting 6 crayons into 2 equal groups, and 6 ÷ 2 = 3 crayons in each group.
8. The bottom number in a fraction tells how many equal parts.
The bottom number, the denominator, tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into, and fractions only work when the parts are equal in size.
9. One-fourth of 8 stickers is 2 stickers.
One-fourth of 8 means splitting 8 stickers into 4 equal groups, and 8 ÷ 4 = 2 stickers in each group.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
12
→ one part out of 2 equal parts
one part out of 4 equal parts
13
→ one part out of 3 equal parts
one part out of 2 equal parts
14
→ one part out of 4 equal parts
two parts out of 4 equal parts
24
→ two parts out of 4 equal parts
one part out of 3 equal parts
Each fraction is read by saying how many parts you have out of how many equal parts in the whole: 12 is one part out of 2, 13 is one part out of 3, 14 is one part out of 4, and 24 is two parts out of 4.