Fractions of a whole · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

What a Fraction Really Means

Mathematics · Fractions · ages 8-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A shape is cut into fifths. All but two parts are shaded. How many parts are shaded?

    Answer: ______________

  2. A shape has 7 equal parts with 1 shaded. What fraction is shaded?

    • 7/1
    • 1/6
    • 1/7
    • 1/8

  3. Look at the circle. What fraction is shaded?

    • 1/3
    • 1/2
    • 3/1

  4. 3/4 means the whole is cut into 4 parts that are all different sizes.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. A whole is cut into 6 parts and 2 are shaded. How many parts are NOT shaded?

    Answer: ______________

  6. This bar is cut into 6 equal parts, and 2 are shaded. What fraction is shaded?

    • 6/2
    • 2/6
    • 1/6

  7. What does 3/4 mean?

    • 3 parts of size 1/4
    • 4 parts of size 1/3
    • 3 wholes cut into 4
    • 4 parts of size 3

  8. Lena draws a bar cut into 6 equal parts and shades 2. She says this shows 2/6. Is Lena right?

    Circle one:   True   False

  9. Leo cuts a pizza into 6 slices, but the slices are not all the same size. He says one slice is 1/6 of the pizza. Is he right?

    • Yes, one slice is always 1/6
    • Yes, since there are 6 slices
    • No, the slices must be equal size first

  10. Which model shows 2/6?

    • A whole cut into 6 with 4 shaded
    • A whole cut into 6 with 2 shaded
    • A whole cut into 4 with 2 shaded
    • A whole cut into 8 with 2 shaded
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

What a Fraction Really Means W1-mt_ndGqFPWyen-s1

  1. 3 · Fifths means 5 parts, and 5 - 2 = 3 shaded.
  2. 1/7 · 1 of 7 equal parts is 1/7.
  3. 1/3 · The circle has 3 equal parts and 1 is shaded, so 1/3 is shaded.
  4. False · In 3/4, the whole is cut into 4 equal parts. Only how many parts you have changes, not their size.
  5. 4 · 6 - 2 = 4 parts unshaded.
  6. 2/6 · 2 parts are shaded out of 6 equal parts, so that's 2/6.
  7. 3 parts of size 1/4 · 3/4 is 3 pieces, each of size 1/4.
  8. True · Lena is right: 2 of 6 equal parts is 2/6.
  9. No, the slices must be equal size first · 1/6 only works if all 6 slices are the same size. Uneven slices break the rule, even if there are 6 of them.
  10. A whole cut into 6 with 2 shaded · 2 shaded of 6 is 2/6. The rest show 4/6, 2/4 and 2/8.
Worksheet · LightMySky