Fair shares: halves and quarters

Kia ora! Two friends have one sandwich. How can they share it, so it's fair?

Look! If we cut it like this, one piece is big, and one piece is tiny. That's not fair! Fair shares must be the same size.

So let's cut right down the middle. Now there are two equal parts. Each part is one half.

Here's a pizza for four friends. Cut it in half, and then in half again. Now there are four equal parts. Each part is one quarter.

This chocolate bar is cut into four pieces. Are they quarters? No! The pieces are not the same size. Let's fix it. Now each piece is a quarter.

We can share groups, too. Here are eight apples. To find half, share them into two equal groups. Four apples each! Half of eight is four.

Now share the eight apples between four friends. Two apples each. A quarter of eight is two.

When we write a fraction, the bottom number tells us how many equal parts there are. One half has a two on the bottom: two equal parts. One quarter has a four: four equal parts.

So, fair shares are always equal. Two equal parts are halves. Four equal parts are quarters. And the bottom number tells how many equal parts.