Concept 2 of 6
One Half
Today's big idea
One of two equal parts is one half, written 1/2.
1 shaded part out of 2 equal parts is 1/2.
How it works
👀 What's going on?
Split it into 2 equal parts and take one. That one part is a half.
💡 Here's the trick
When a whole is split into 2 equal parts, each part is one half. We write one half as 1/2.
Half an apple or half a sandwich is 1 of 2 equal parts.
✍️ Try it
You cut a roti into 2 equal parts and eat one. How much did you eat? → one half.
⚠️ Watch out
The 2 parts must be equal, or neither piece is a real half.
Watch me solve one
Quanta solves it
“Watch how I think through one of these — then you try.”
THE PROBLEM
“You cut a roti into 2 equal parts and eat one. How much did you eat?”
- 1
Count the parts
The whole is in 2 equal parts.
- 2
You ate
1 of those 2 parts.
- 3
Name it
1 of 2 equal parts is one half (1/2).
- 4
Answer ✓
one half
Now you try one — same steps, different story 👇
See it in action
⚡ Time to play!
Tap one of the 2 equal parts to make one half.
Parts shaded: 0 / 1
Quick check
✅ VERIFICATION
A whole is split into 2 equal parts. Each part is called…
⚡ Finish the activity above first to answer.
Keep going!
Up next: Thirds and Fourths
3 equal parts are thirds; 4 are fourths.