Maths

Fractions

Class 3

🎯 Learning Objectives

Understand what a fraction is -- a part of a whole.
Learn about half (1/2), quarter (1/4), and one-third (1/3).
Know the meaning of numerator and denominator.
Colour and identify fractions of shapes.

📖 Let Us Begin!

Imagine you have one roti. You break it into 2 equal parts and give one part to your sister.

You gave one part out of two equal parts. We write this as 1/2 and read it as "one-half".

A fraction tells us about equal parts of a whole.

The whole must be divided into equal parts -- not big and small, but the same size!

Understanding Fractions

What is a Fraction?

A fraction is a number that shows a part of a whole. When we cut or divide something into equal parts, each part is a fraction of the whole.

Think about it: If you cut an apple into 4 equal pieces and eat 1 piece, what fraction of the apple did you eat? You ate 1/4 (one-quarter)!

Numerator and Denominator

Every fraction has two numbers separated by a line:

The top number is the numerator. It tells how many parts we are talking about.
The bottom number is the denominator. It tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

In the fraction 1/4: numerator = 1 (we are talking about 1 part), denominator = 4 (the whole has 4 equal parts).

Common Fractions

Fraction	We Say	Meaning
1/2	One-half	1 part out of 2 equal parts
1/3	One-third	1 part out of 3 equal parts
1/4	One-quarter	1 part out of 4 equal parts
2/4	Two-quarters	2 parts out of 4 equal parts
2/3	Two-thirds	2 parts out of 3 equal parts

Parts of a Whole

If a rectangle is divided into 3 equal parts and 1 part is coloured, the coloured part is 1/3. The uncoloured part is 2/3.

Together, all parts make the whole: 1/3 + 2/3 = 3/3 = 1 whole.

Examples

Example

Example 1: Naming a Fraction

A circle is divided into 4 equal parts. 3 parts are coloured. What fraction is coloured?

Coloured parts = 3, Total equal parts = 4. The fraction is 3/4 (three-quarters).

Example

Example 2: Finding the Numerator and Denominator

In the fraction 2/3: the numerator is 2 and the denominator is 3.

It means 2 parts out of 3 equal parts.

Example

Example 3: Fraction in Daily Life

Meena cuts a chapati into 2 equal pieces. She eats 1 piece. She ate 1/2 of the chapati.

📝 Key Words

Word	Meaning
Fraction	A part of a whole, written with a numerator and denominator
Numerator	The top number -- tells how many parts we have
Denominator	The bottom number -- tells total equal parts
Half (1/2)	One out of two equal parts
Quarter (1/4)	One out of four equal parts
Whole	The complete thing before it is divided

⭐ Key Points to Remember

A fraction shows equal parts of a whole.
The numerator (top) tells how many parts we have.
The denominator (bottom) tells the total number of equal parts.
1/2 means one out of two equal parts (half).
1/4 means one out of four equal parts (quarter).
1/3 means one out of three equal parts (one-third).
All parts together make the whole.

✏️ Practice Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks

1. A fraction has two parts: the and the .

2. In the fraction 3/4, the numerator is and the denominator is .

3. If a pizza is cut into 2 equal parts, each part is of the pizza.

4. 1/3 means part out of equal parts.

5. The bottom number of a fraction is called the .

B. Multiple Choice Questions

1. What fraction of a shape is coloured if 2 out of 4 equal parts are coloured?

(a) 1/2(b) 2/4(c) Both (a) and (b)(d) 3/4

2. What is the denominator in 1/3?

(a) 1(b) 3(c) 4(d) 2

3. Which fraction means "one-quarter"?

(a) 1/2(b) 1/3(c) 1/4(d) 4/1

C. Short Answer Questions

1. Draw a rectangle. Divide it into 4 equal parts. Colour 1/4 of it.

2. Raj ate 2 slices of a cake that was cut into 3 equal slices. What fraction did he eat?

3. Write the fraction for: three parts out of four equal parts.

🎨 Think and Do -- Fun Activity

Fold and Find Fractions: Take a square piece of paper.

1. Fold it into 2 equal parts. Colour one part. You coloured 1/2.

2. Take another square. Fold it into 4 equal parts. Colour 3 parts. You coloured ____.

3. Take another square. Fold it into 3 equal parts (as best as you can). Colour 1 part. You coloured ____.

4. Write the fraction for the uncoloured part in each case:

Paper 1: ___________ Paper 2: ___________ Paper 3: ___________

Want to use this as a worksheet? Switch to the A4 printable view.

Learning Objectives

Understand what a fraction is -- a part of a whole.
Learn about half (1/2), quarter (1/4), and one-third (1/3).
Know the meaning of numerator and denominator.
Colour and identify fractions of shapes.

Let Us Begin!

Imagine you have one roti. You break it into 2 equal parts and give one part to your sister.

You gave one part out of two equal parts. We write this as 1/2 and read it as "one-half".

A fraction tells us about equal parts of a whole.

The whole must be divided into equal parts -- not big and small, but the same size!

Understanding Fractions

What is a Fraction?

A fraction is a number that shows a part of a whole. When we cut or divide something into equal parts, each part is a fraction of the whole.

Think about it: If you cut an apple into 4 equal pieces and eat 1 piece, what fraction of the apple did you eat? You ate 1/4 (one-quarter)!

Numerator and Denominator

Every fraction has two numbers separated by a line:

The top number is the numerator. It tells how many parts we are talking about.
The bottom number is the denominator. It tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

In the fraction 1/4: numerator = 1 (we are talking about 1 part), denominator = 4 (the whole has 4 equal parts).

Common Fractions

Fraction	We Say	Meaning
1/2	One-half	1 part out of 2 equal parts
1/3	One-third	1 part out of 3 equal parts
1/4	One-quarter	1 part out of 4 equal parts
2/4	Two-quarters	2 parts out of 4 equal parts
2/3	Two-thirds	2 parts out of 3 equal parts

Parts of a Whole

If a rectangle is divided into 3 equal parts and 1 part is coloured, the coloured part is 1/3. The uncoloured part is 2/3.

Together, all parts make the whole: 1/3 + 2/3 = 3/3 = 1 whole.

Key Words and Meanings

Word	Meaning
Fraction	A part of a whole, written with a numerator and denominator
Numerator	The top number -- tells how many parts we have
Denominator	The bottom number -- tells total equal parts
Half (1/2)	One out of two equal parts
Quarter (1/4)	One out of four equal parts
Whole	The complete thing before it is divided

Examples

Example 1: Naming a Fraction

A circle is divided into 4 equal parts. 3 parts are coloured. What fraction is coloured?

Coloured parts = 3, Total equal parts = 4. The fraction is 3/4 (three-quarters).

Example 2: Finding the Numerator and Denominator

In the fraction 2/3: the numerator is 2 and the denominator is 3.

It means 2 parts out of 3 equal parts.

Example 3: Fraction in Daily Life

Meena cuts a chapati into 2 equal pieces. She eats 1 piece. She ate 1/2 of the chapati.

Key Points to Remember

A fraction shows equal parts of a whole.
The numerator (top) tells how many parts we have.
The denominator (bottom) tells the total number of equal parts.
1/2 means one out of two equal parts (half).
1/4 means one out of four equal parts (quarter).
1/3 means one out of three equal parts (one-third).
All parts together make the whole.

Practice Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks

A fraction has two parts: the and the .
In the fraction 3/4, the numerator is and the denominator is .
If a pizza is cut into 2 equal parts, each part is of the pizza.
1/3 means part out of equal parts.
The bottom number of a fraction is called the .

B. Multiple Choice Questions

What fraction of a shape is coloured if 2 out of 4 equal parts are coloured?
(a) 1/2(b) 2/4(c) Both (a) and (b)(d) 3/4
What is the denominator in 1/3?
(a) 1(b) 3(c) 4(d) 2
Which fraction means "one-quarter"?
(a) 1/2(b) 1/3(c) 1/4(d) 4/1

C. Short Answer Questions

Draw a rectangle. Divide it into 4 equal parts. Colour 1/4 of it.
Raj ate 2 slices of a cake that was cut into 3 equal slices. What fraction did he eat?
Write the fraction for: three parts out of four equal parts.

Think and Do -- Fun Activity

Fold and Find Fractions: Take a square piece of paper.

1. Fold it into 2 equal parts. Colour one part. You coloured 1/2.

2. Take another square. Fold it into 4 equal parts. Colour 3 parts. You coloured ____.

3. Take another square. Fold it into 3 equal parts (as best as you can). Colour 1 part. You coloured ____.

4. Write the fraction for the uncoloured part in each case:

Paper 1: ___________ Paper 2: ___________ Paper 3: ___________

Fractions

🎯 Learning Objectives

📖 Let Us Begin!

Understanding Fractions

Examples

📝 Key Words

✏️ Practice Questions

Mathematics -- Class 3

Mathematics -- Class 3 (continued)