What is a fraction?
Fractions start in Year 1 with halves and quarters. Equivalent fractions come in Years 3 and 4, and Year 6 adds and subtracts fractions with different denominators, multiplies pairs of proper fractions and divides proper fractions by whole numbers. Below: what it means, a worked example, the mistake to watch for and an 11+ question.
The answer
A fraction is a way of writing part of a whole, with one number over another, like ¾.
What it means
The bottom number, the denominator, says how many equal parts the whole is split into. The top number, the numerator, says how many of those parts you have.
¾ means the whole is split into 4 equal parts and you have 3 of them.
Different fractions can be worth the same: ½, 2/4 and 4/8 are equivalent fractions.
A worked example
Find ¾ of 20
- Divide by the denominator to find one quarter: 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
- Multiply by the numerator to find three quarters: 5 × 3 = 15.
The common mistake
Thinking a bigger denominator means a bigger fraction. ⅛ is smaller than ¼, because the whole is cut into more pieces, so each one is smaller.
How it comes up in the 11+
What is ⅖ of 35?
Answer: 14
- One fifth of 35 is 35 ÷ 5 = 7.
- Two fifths is 7 × 2 = 14.
Try it yourself
The wall opens on ¾, the fraction in the worked example. Look straight down to find the fractions worth the same, then tap any piece to try another.
A fraction wall shows one whole split into halves, thirds, quarters and more, so equal fractions line up.
Related words and practice
More maths words
Questions parents ask
What are equivalent fractions?
Fractions that are worth the same, like ½ and 3/6. Multiply or divide the top and bottom by the same number to make one.
What is a unit fraction?
A fraction with a numerator of 1, like ½, ⅓ or ⅛. It means one of the equal parts.
Knowing the words is half of an 11+ maths question
11+ papers use maths vocabulary without explaining it. The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.