Making a whole

Part of MathsFractionsYear 4

Making a whole

A whole can be made up of any number of parts.

This square has been divided into 3 equal parts.

A square divided into three equal parts.

Each part is one-third of the whole.

Together the 3 one-thirds are equal to the whole.

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Activity: Making a whole

Complete this interactive activity to understand how to make a whole, then put your knowledge to the test.

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Making a whole

Take a look at this slideshow to find out how to make a whole.

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  1. A circle divided into 3 parts. The parts are not equal. None of the parts are the same size.

    This circle has been divided into 3 parts, but the parts are not equal.

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Example 1

Take a look at this shape and answer these three questions.

There are 5 squares in the shape of an + with one of the squares shaded.

  • How many parts has it been divided into?

  • How many parts are shaded?

  • Are the parts equal?

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Example 2

Here are 10 children in a group.

There are ten children of different ages stood in a line.

  • If you divided the group into 5 teams, how many children would be in each team?

  • Can you also divide them into 3 equal teams?

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Example 3

A quarter-circle.

This shape is one part of a whole. There are 4 equal parts to the whole.

What shape is the whole?

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Primary maths teaching resources

Visit BBC Bitesize for Teachers to see videos, activities and more resources to use in maths classes for KS1 and KS2.

Primary maths teaching resources
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