If you take every piece, you have the whole thing. 4/4 is one whole.
Step 1: Let's Learn
Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.
It works for any denominator
3/3, 5/5, and 8/8 are all equal to 1.
Whole numbers as fractions
2 can be written as 8/4, because two wholes cut into fourths gives 8 pieces.
On the line, 4/4 lands exactly on the 1.
When top and bottom match
4/4 means four of the four pieces — all of them, which is the whole thing. So 4/4 = 1. The same goes for 2/2, 3/3, 8/8 and any other matching pair. Whenever the numbers are equal, the fraction is one whole.
Whole numbers as fractions
Any whole number can be written as a fraction with 1 on the bottom: 3 = 3/1, meaning three wholes. And 8/2 = 4. Whole numbers are not a separate species — they sit on the same number line as fractions and can be written in fraction form.
Why this is useful
Recognising 6/6 as 1 lets you simplify at a glance. It also anchors your sense of size: if a fraction has a top smaller than its bottom it is less than 1, and if the top is bigger it is more than 1. That one check catches many fraction errors.
Step 2: Try It Yourself
Tap and try it out.
4/4
3/4
4/4 is greater than 3/4.
The pieces are the same size, so more pieces means more.
Step 3: Watch an Example
One step at a time.
Watch Ana Reach One
Ana shades a bar cut into 6 parts, one piece at a time.
- Step 1
At 5/6 there is still one white piece left.
Step 4: Your Turn
Practice makes it stick.
The Whole Cake
Problem 1 of 2
A cake is cut into 8 slices and all are eaten. What fraction was eaten?
eighths
Two Wholes
Problem 2 of 2
Two pizzas are each cut into 4. How many quarters is that in total?
quarters
Reaching One
1 of 3
How many fifths make one whole?
2 of 3
How many thirds make 2 wholes?
3 of 3
7/7 equals which whole number?
Step 5: Quick Check
Show what you know.
Question 1 of 2
6/6 equals which whole number?
Question 2 of 2
How many quarters make 3 wholes?
What You Learned
- When the top and bottom match, the fraction is one whole.
- 3/3, 5/5, and 8/8 all equal 1.
- Whole numbers can be written as fractions.