Year 2: Fractions of a set and a quantity
Part of the Year 2 fractions chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Fractions of a set and a quantity
We can find a fraction of a group too. Share the group into equal groups. Then count the groups we need.
Here are 9 balls on 3 plates. Each plate has 3 balls. So one third of 9 is 3.
The same idea works for lengths and amounts too.
Key ideas
- Share the group into equal plates first.
- Count how many are on one plate.
- Three quarters means three of four equal plates.
- Check: the plates put together make the whole.
Key words. One third means 1 of the 3 equal parts.
Method. Share into 3 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 9 balls into 3 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.9 ÷ 3 = 3
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 3 balls.3 in one plate
- Take one plate. One plate is one third of the whole.3
Check. Put the plates back together: 3 + 3 + 3 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. Three quarters means 3 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 12 sweets into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.12 ÷ 4 = 3
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 3 sweets.3 in one plate
- Take 3 plates. three quarters means 3 of the 4 equal plates.3 × 3 = 9
- Write the answer. 9
Check. Put the plates back together: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. One quarter means 1 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 20 stars into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.20 ÷ 4 = 5
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 5 stars.5 in one plate
- Take one plate. One plate is one quarter of the whole.5
Check. Put the plates back together: 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Watch out
Watch out: 3/4 of 12 means three of the four equal plates.
Count the three plates, not the one left over.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use four cups and some buttons. Share them out one at a time. Ask: “How many are in one cup?”
Exercise 4D Fractions of a set and a quantity
Non-calculatorKey words. One third means 1 of the 3 equal parts.
Method. Share into 3 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 6 apples into 3 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.6 ÷ 3 = 2
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 2 apples.2 in one plate
- Take one plate. One plate is one third of the whole.2
Check. Put the plates back together: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. One quarter means 1 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 8 cubes into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.8 ÷ 4 = 2
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 2 cubes.2 in one plate
- Take one plate. One plate is one quarter of the whole.2
Check. Put the plates back together: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. Two quarters means 2 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 8 sweets into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.8 ÷ 4 = 2
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 2 sweets.2 in one plate
- Take 2 plates. two quarters means 2 of the 4 equal plates.2 × 2 = 4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Put the plates back together: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. Three quarters means 3 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 12 cakes into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.12 ÷ 4 = 3
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 3 cakes.3 in one plate
- Take 3 plates. three quarters means 3 of the 4 equal plates.3 × 3 = 9
- Write the answer. 9
Check. Put the plates back together: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. One third means 1 of the 3 equal parts.
Method. Share into 3 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 15 pens into 3 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.15 ÷ 3 = 5
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 5 pens.5 in one plate
- Take one plate. One plate is one third of the whole.5
Check. Put the plates back together: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. One quarter means 1 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 20 grapes into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.20 ÷ 4 = 5
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 5 grapes.5 in one plate
- Take one plate. One plate is one quarter of the whole.5
Check. Put the plates back together: 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. Three quarters means 3 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 16 counters into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.16 ÷ 4 = 4
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 4 counters.4 in one plate
- Take 3 plates. three quarters means 3 of the 4 equal plates.4 × 3 = 12
- Write the answer. 12
Check. Put the plates back together: 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. One quarter means 1 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 16 stars into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.16 ÷ 4 = 4
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 4 stars.4 in one plate
- Take one plate. One plate is one quarter of the whole.4
Check. Put the plates back together: 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. Three quarters means 3 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 16 stars into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.16 ÷ 4 = 4
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 4 stars.4 in one plate
- Take 3 plates. three quarters means 3 of the 4 equal plates.4 × 3 = 12
- Write the answer. 12
Check. Put the plates back together: 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Key words. One quarter means 1 of the 4 equal parts.
Method. Share into 4 equal plates, then take the ones you need.
- Share the 12 marbles into 4 equal plates. Every plate needs the same number.12 ÷ 4 = 3
- Find what is in one plate. Each plate has 3 marbles.3 in one plate
- Take one plate. One plate is one quarter of the whole.3
Check. Put the plates back together: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Make every plate the same size before you count. Then count the plates you need.
Method. Share the stickers into 4 equal plates. Give away the plate that is left.
- Share the stickers. Share 12 into 4 equal plates.12 ÷ 4 = 3
- Find the amount kept. Mo keeps 3 plates, which is 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 stickers.9 kept
- Find the amount given away. The plate that is left is 1/4 of the stickers.12 − 9 = 3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. 9 kept and 3 given away make 12: 9 + 3 = 12. ✓
Watch out. The part given away is the one plate that is left.
Method. Share 12 into 4 equal plates, not 3.
- Share into 4 plates. Four plates need the number to divide by 4.12 ÷ 4 = 3
- Check one plate. Each plate has 3, not 4.3 on one plate
- Decide. Ella divided by the wrong number.No. 1/4 of 12 is 3.
Check. Four plates of 3 make 12: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. ✓
Watch out. The bottom number tells you how many equal groups to make.
Method. Find 1/3 of 12 and 1/4 of 12. Then compare them.
- Find 1/3 of 12. Share 12 into 3 equal plates. Each plate has 4.12 ÷ 3 = 4
- Find 1/4 of 12. Share 12 into 4 equal plates. Each plate has 3.12 ÷ 4 = 3
- Compare. The bigger share is 4, and 4 is more than 3.4 > 3
- Write the answer. 1/3
Check. Three plates of 4 make 12, and four plates of 3 make 12. ✓
Watch out. More equal plates means each plate is smaller.