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Lesson overview

Number - fractions

A tenth is one of 10 equal parts. We can count in tenths on a fraction strip or a number line: one tenth, two tenths, three tenths and so on until ten tenths, which makes one whole.

One whole split into tenths

Ten equal parts make tenths.

10 tenths make 1 whole.

Each part must be equal to be a tenth.

Count up in tenths

We can count $\frac{1}{10}$ , $\frac{2}{10}$ , $\frac{3}{10}$ and so on.

The numerator increases by 1 each time.

Count down in tenths

We can also count backwards from one whole.

The numerator decreases by 1 each time.

Tenths as decimals

Tenths can also be written as decimals: $\frac{1}{10}$ is 0.1 and $\frac{2}{10}$ is 0.2. This is another way to write the same tenths.

Fraction $\frac{2}{10}$

Decimal0.2

The fraction and the decimal show the same part of one whole.

Worked example

What comes after $\frac{6}{10}$ when we count in tenths?

Count in tenths by increasing the numerator by 1.
$\frac{6}{10}$ is followed by $\frac{7}{10}$ .
The denominator stays the same because the whole is still split into 10 equal parts.
So the next fraction is $\frac{7}{10}$ .

Try it

Keep the denominator the same and count the numerator up or down by one each time.

Question 1

What comes after $\frac{3}{10}$ ?

Question 2

How many equal parts make tenths?

Question 3

Write the numerator in $\frac{7}{10}$ .

Question 4

What is $\frac{10}{10}$ equal to?

Question 5

Which sequence counts down in tenths?

Common mistakes

Watch for these when working through the lesson.

Changing the denominator while counting in tenths.
Forgetting that the parts must be equal.
Thinking ten tenths is bigger than one whole.

Count up and down in tenths; recognise that tenths arise from dividing an object into 10 equal parts

Lesson overview

Worked example

Try it

Common mistakes

Related topics

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