Understanding fractions
Fractions can be illustrated by dividing a shape into equal parts, and shading a certain number of these parts. The bottom number is the number of equal parts that diagram has been cut into, and the top number is the number of equal parts that has been shaded.
If you cut a cake into two equal pieces and eat one of them, you have eaten \(\frac{1}{2}\) (half) a cake.
If a cake is cut into five equal pieces and you eat three of them, you have eaten \(\frac{3}{5}\) (three fifths) of a cake.
\(\frac{1}{2}\) and \(\frac{3}{5}\) are examples of fractions - parts of a whole.