Year 1: Equal and not equal parts
Part of the Year 1 halves and quarters chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Equal and not equal parts
Some shapes are cut into parts. When all the parts are the same size, they are equal parts. When one part is bigger or smaller than another, the parts are not equal.
The left rectangle has equal parts. The right rectangle does not, because one part is bigger.
Key ideas
- Equal parts are the same size.
- Parts that are not equal are different sizes.
- Check by comparing the parts side by side.
Method. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.2 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.The parts are the same size.
- Decide. Yes. The parts are equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Method. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.2 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.One or more parts is a different size.
- Decide. No. The parts are not equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Method. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.4 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.The parts are the same size.
- Decide. Yes. The parts are equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Watch out
Watch out: a line can look as if it is in the middle when it is not. Check the size of each part before you decide.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Fold a piece of paper, a sandwich or a strip of card in two. Ask: “Are both parts the same size?” Then fold it again to make four.
Exercise 10A Equal and not equal parts
Non-calculatorMethod. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.2 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.The parts are the same size.
- Decide. Yes. The parts are equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Method. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.2 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.One or more parts is a different size.
- Decide. No. The parts are not equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Method. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.2 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.One or more parts is a different size.
- Decide. No. The parts are not equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Method. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.4 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.The parts are the same size.
- Decide. Yes. The parts are equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Method. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.4 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.One or more parts is a different size.
- Decide. No. The parts are not equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Method. Look at each picture and find the one with equal parts.
- Look at A. Count the equal parts and the shaded parts.A: 2 parts, not equal, 0 shaded
- Look at B. Count the equal parts and the shaded parts.B: 4 parts, equal, 0 shaded
- Look at C. Count the equal parts and the shaded parts.C: 3 parts, not equal, 0 shaded
- Find the picture that matches. We want the picture with equal parts.Matches: B
- Write the answer. B
Check. A and C do not match. ✓
Watch out. Count the equal parts first, then the shaded parts.
Method. Look at each picture and find the one with equal parts.
- Look at A. Count the equal parts and the shaded parts.A: 2 parts, equal, 0 shaded
- Look at B. Count the equal parts and the shaded parts.B: 2 parts, not equal, 0 shaded
- Find the picture that matches. We want the picture with equal parts.Matches: A
- Write the answer. A
Check. B do not match. ✓
Watch out. Count the equal parts first, then the shaded parts.
Method. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.3 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.One or more parts is a different size.
- Decide. No. The parts are not equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Method. Equal parts are the same size. Compare the parts to decide.
- Look at each part. Compare the parts side by side.2 parts
- Compare the sizes. Equal parts are the same size.One or more parts is a different size.
- Decide. No. The parts are not equal.
Check. Measure the parts with a ruler or a strip of paper. The same length means equal. ✓
Watch out. A line that looks like it is in the middle may not be. Check before you decide.
Method. Look at each picture and find the one with equal parts.
- Look at A. Count the equal parts and the shaded parts.A: 2 parts, equal, 0 shaded
- Look at B. Count the equal parts and the shaded parts.B: 2 parts, not equal, 0 shaded
- Look at C. Count the equal parts and the shaded parts.C: 4 parts, equal, 0 shaded
- Look at D. Count the equal parts and the shaded parts.D: 2 parts, not equal, 0 shaded
- Find the picture that matches. We want the picture with equal parts.Matches: A and C
- Write the answer. A and C
Check. B and D do not match. ✓
Watch out. Count the equal parts first, then the shaded parts.