Halves and Quarters

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What this lesson covers

  • A fraction is a part of a whole.
  • Halves are two equal parts. One of them is 1/2.
  • Quarters are four equal parts. One of them is 1/4.
  • Half of a group means sharing it into two equal groups.
Key idea

Parts of a whole

  • A whole is the full thing: a whole pizza, a whole apple.
  • A fraction is a part of that whole.
  • The parts must be the same size.
Key idea

Halves

  • Cut a whole into 2 equal parts. Each part is one half.
  • We write one half as 1/2.
  • If the parts are not equal, they are not halves.
Key idea

Try it: one half

Key idea

Quarters

  • Cut a whole into 4 equal parts. Each part is one quarter.
  • We write one quarter as 1/4.
  • 4 parts means each part is smaller than a half.
Key idea

Try it: halves and quarters on a fraction wall

Worked example

Halves and quarters of shapes

  • Fold a paper square in half. Fold it again for quarters.
  • Check the parts match exactly.
WholeCutEach part is
squaredown the middle1/2
squareacross and down1/4
round pizzathrough the middle once1/2
round pizzathrough the middle twice, crossing1/4
Worked example

Half and a quarter of a group

  • Share the group out one at a time.
  • Two equal groups: each is a half. Four equal groups: each is a quarter.
  • Half of a 20 cm ribbon is 10 cm. Amounts can be halved too.
GroupFindShare intoAnswer
8 appleshalf2 groups4
8 applesa quarter4 groups2
10 shellshalf2 groups5
12 grapesa quarter4 groups3
Key idea

Try it: half or a quarter?

Common mistakes

  • Any two pieces are halves.
    Halves must be the same size. One big piece and one small piece are not halves.
  • A quarter is bigger than a half, because 4 is bigger than 2.
    A quarter is smaller. The whole is cut into more pieces, so each one is smaller.
  • Half of 8 is 2.
    Half of 8 is 4. Share 8 into 2 equal groups and each has 4.
  • 1/4 means 4 pieces.
    1/4 means 1 piece out of 4 equal pieces.

Your turn

1

How many equal parts make halves?

2

How many equal parts make quarters?

3

What is half of 10 shells?

4

What is a quarter of 8 apples?

5

A cake is cut into 2 pieces: one big and one small. Are they halves?

Show answer

1. 2 2. 4 3. 5 4. 2 5. No, the parts are not equal.

Summary

What to take away

  • Halves: 2 equal parts.
  • Quarters: 4 equal parts.
  • To find a half or a quarter of a group, share it equally.
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More in Number

Counting to 100 and Place ValueNotes1st, 2nd, 3rd, Te Reo Numbers and Number LinesNotesGroups, Pairs and Counting in 2s and 10sNotesNumber Facts to 10, Doubles and Adding to 20NotesJoining, Taking Away and Equal GroupsNotesHalves and QuartersNotesSharing Fairly: From Halves to QuartersNotesNew Zealand Coins and NotesNotes

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