Decomposing a shape into more equal shares
Understand that decomposing a shape into more equal shares creates smaller shares
What a learner can do afterwards
- Explain that a quarter of a pizza is smaller than a half of the same pizza
- Demonstrate that fourths are smaller pieces than halves
- Compare the size of halves and quarters of the same shape
The lesson
You already know how to cut a shape into halves and fourths. Now let's see what happens to the size of each piece when the same shape gets cut into more equal shares.
Two friends share a pizza cut into halves, so each friend gets a big piece. Then two more friends join. Now four people share the very same pizza, so it gets cut into fourths instead. Each person's piece is smaller now, because the same pizza has to stretch across more equal shares.
Here is the rule: cutting a shape into more equal shares always makes each share smaller, as long as the whole shape stays the same size.
The more equal shares a shape is cut into, the smaller each share becomes, so a fourth is always smaller than a half of the same shape.
Watch it
Where it sits
Learn first
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.