Find one quarter of 12
Share 12 objects into 4 equal groups. Each group has 3.
12 shared into 4 equal groups
One quarter of 12 is 3.
Year 3
Recognise, find and write fractions of a discrete set of objects
Find fractions of a set by sharing the objects into equal groups.
Lesson overview
Number - fractions
A discrete set is a group of separate objects. To find a fraction of a set, share the whole set into equal groups first, then count the groups you need.
Find two thirds of 12
Share into 3 equal groups, then take 2 groups.
Two thirds means two of the equal groups.
Equal groups matter
Fractions only work when the set is split equally.
Unequal groups do not show a correct fraction.
Worked example
Find of 8.
- Share 8 into 4 equal groups.
- Each quarter is 2.
- Take 3 of the equal groups.
- 2 + 2 + 2 = 6, so of 8 is 6.
Try it
Share the set equally first, then count the groups named by the fraction.
Question 1
What is of 12?
Question 2
What is of 15?
Question 3
What is of 12?
Question 4
What is of 8?
Question 5
Which statement is true?
Common mistakes
Watch for these when working through the lesson.
- Taking objects without sharing equally first.
- Counting the whole set again instead of the fraction part.
- Mixing up the numerator and denominator.
Related topics
These ideas fit closely with this lesson.
- Recognise and use fractions as numbers: unit fractions and non-unit fractions with small denominators.
- Add and subtract fractions with the same denominator within one whole.