Understand fractions: area models
Let's slice up some shapes! 🍕 Fractions are all about equal parts of a whole. We'll use shapes like circles and rectangles to see what fractions look like.
Concept
An area model is a shape (like a square, rectangle, or circle) that is divided into equal parts. It's a great way to visualize fractions. **The Parts of a Fraction:** A fraction has two parts: a **numerator** (top number) and a **denominator** (bottom number). * **Denominator (Bottom):** This tells you how many **total equal parts** the whole shape is divided into. * **Numerator (Top):** This tells you how many of those equal parts are **shaded** or being described. **Visual Example:** Imagine a pizza (a circle) that is cut into **8** equal slices. * The **denominator** of our fraction will be **8**, because there are 8 total slices. * Now, imagine you eat **3** of those slices. The parts you ate are the numerator. * So, the fraction of the pizza you ate is **3/8**. Another example: A rectangle is divided into **4** equal parts, and **1** part is colored blue. * The fraction that is blue is **1/4**. **Key Idea:** The denominator tells you 'how many total pieces', and the numerator tells you 'how many pieces we care about'. For a fraction to be fair, all the pieces must be the same size!
Try it
Practice: Understand fractions: area models.