Step-by-step Maths Level 3: Unit fractions
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 3 halves and quarters chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Unit fractions
A unit fraction has 1 on top. For example, 1/4 is one of four equal parts.
The bottom number tells you how many equal parts the whole is split into.
Key ideas
- A unit fraction has 1 on top.
- The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4 are unit fractions.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.4 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 4
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/4
Check. Check: 4 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.6 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 6
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/6
Check. Check: 6 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top.
- Look at the top number of each fraction. A unit fraction has 1 on top.2/4 has 2 on top, 3/4 has 3 on top, 1/4 has 1 on top
- Find the one with 1 on top. Only one of them has a 1 on top.1/4
- Write the answer. This is the unit fraction.1/4
Check. 1/4 is one of equal parts. The others take more than one part.
Watch out. The top number is the number of parts we take. A unit fraction takes just one.
Watch out
Watch out. 2/4 is not a unit fraction, because it has 2 on top. A unit fraction has 1 on top.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “How many equal parts is the shape split into? How many parts are we talking about?”
Exercise 8E Practice: unit fractions
Non-calculatorMethod. A unit fraction has a 1 on top.
- Look at the top number of each fraction. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1/2 has 1 on top, 4/6 has 4 on top, 2/10 has 2 on top
- Find the one with 1 on top. Only one of them has a 1 on top.1/2
- Write the answer. This is the unit fraction.1/2
Check. 1/2 is one of equal parts. The others take more than one part.
Watch out. The top number is the number of parts we take. A unit fraction takes just one.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.5 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 5
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/5
Check. Check: 5 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top.
- Look at the top number of each fraction. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1/9 has 1 on top, 4/5 has 4 on top, 3/7 has 3 on top
- Find the one with 1 on top. Only one of them has a 1 on top.1/9
- Write the answer. This is the unit fraction.1/9
Check. 1/9 is one of equal parts. The others take more than one part.
Watch out. The top number is the number of parts we take. A unit fraction takes just one.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.2 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 2
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/2
Check. Check: 2 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.6 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 6
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/6
Check. Check: 6 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.4 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 4
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/4
Check. Check: 4 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.9 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 9
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/9
Check. Check: 9 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top.
- Look at the top number of each fraction. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1/5 has 1 on top, 4/6 has 4 on top, 5/9 has 5 on top
- Find the one with 1 on top. Only one of them has a 1 on top.1/5
- Write the answer. This is the unit fraction.1/5
Check. 1/5 is one of equal parts. The others take more than one part.
Watch out. The top number is the number of parts we take. A unit fraction takes just one.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.10 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 10
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/10
Check. Check: 10 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top.
- Look at the top number of each fraction. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1/2 has 1 on top, 3/5 has 3 on top, 2/6 has 2 on top
- Find the one with 1 on top. Only one of them has a 1 on top.1/2
- Write the answer. This is the unit fraction.1/2
Check. 1/2 is one of equal parts. The others take more than one part.
Watch out. The top number is the number of parts we take. A unit fraction takes just one.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top.
- Look at the top number of each fraction. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1/3 has 1 on top, 2/8 has 2 on top, 5/9 has 5 on top
- Find the one with 1 on top. Only one of them has a 1 on top.1/3
- Write the answer. This is the unit fraction.1/3
Check. 1/3 is one of equal parts. The others take more than one part.
Watch out. The top number is the number of parts we take. A unit fraction takes just one.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.8 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 8
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/8
Check. Check: 8 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.7 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 7
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/7
Check. Check: 7 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top.
- Look at the top number of each fraction. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1/9 has 1 on top, 3/8 has 3 on top, 5/10 has 5 on top
- Find the one with 1 on top. Only one of them has a 1 on top.1/9
- Write the answer. This is the unit fraction.1/9
Check. 1/9 is one of equal parts. The others take more than one part.
Watch out. The top number is the number of parts we take. A unit fraction takes just one.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.
- Count the equal parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts.3 equal parts
- One part is 1 of them. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1 part out of 3
- Write the fraction. The top number is 1 for one part.1/3
Check. Check: 3 of these parts make the whole.
Watch out. One part of a shape split into four is 1/4.
Method. A unit fraction has a 1 on top.
- Look at the top number of each fraction. A unit fraction has 1 on top.1/4 has 1 on top, 4/8 has 4 on top, 3/6 has 3 on top
- Find the one with 1 on top. Only one of them has a 1 on top.1/4
- Write the answer. This is the unit fraction.1/4
Check. 1/4 is one of equal parts. The others take more than one part.
Watch out. The top number is the number of parts we take. A unit fraction takes just one.