How to Do Fractional Parts of a Group

Instructions

• 1

  Identify the fractional part of a group that you need to find.

• 2

  Format into a fractional problem to solve using the following formula: (numerator over denominator of the divisor)

  Num/Den of Div=

  Num = Numerator: the number of parts of the whole.

  Den = Denominator: the number of parts into which a whole is divided.

  Div = Divisor: the total number of grouped objects.

• 3

  Use the following example to understand how to apply the formula. If you need to split 12 pieces of candy between 3 people your fraction would look like this:

  1/3 of 12

  In this equation 1 is considered the numerator because you want to divide the candy once evenly. The number 3 is considered the denominator because you want to divide the candy into 3 parts. The number 12 is considered the divisor because it is the total number of pieces of candy that you want to divide into 3 parts.

• 4

  Use division to calculate fractional parts of a group. Divide the total number of grouped objects by the number of parts you want to separate.

  1/3 of 12 = 12 divided by 3.

  12 divided by 3 = 4.

• 5

  The answer is interpreted in this manner. The problem asks that you split 12 pieces of candy evenly between 3 people. Four (4) is 1/3 of 12 so each person would receive 4 pieces of candy.

• 6

  Prove your answer is correct with multiplication. According to the answer, you gave 3 people 4 pieces of candy (each). If you multiply 3 times 4 the product is 12 so this proves that 4 is indeed 1/3 of 12.