Fractions · tenths
What Is 1/10?
1/10 is one tenth: 1 part out of 10 equal parts.
1/10 means 1 out of 10 equal parts. The bottom number (10) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (1) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.1, and as a percent it's 10%.
1/10 in pictures
1/10 at a glance
| In words | one tenth |
| As a decimal | 0.1 |
| As a percent | 10% |
| Simplest form | 1/10 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 2/20, 3/30, 4/40, 5/50 |
| Compared to one half | smaller than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 9/10 |
Is 1/10 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 1 and 10, so 1/10 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 1/10
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 1 × 2 = 2 and 10 × 2 = 20, so 1/10 = 2/20. Times 3 gives 3/30. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 1/10: 2/20, 3/30, 4/40, 5/50, 6/60. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 1/10 bigger than one half?
1/10 is smaller than 1/2. One half of 10 parts is 5, and 1/10 has 1, which is fewer. Next to its neighbors: 1/10 < 2/10.
1/10 in real life
Share the 20 into 10 equal groups: 20 ÷ 10 = 2 in each group. Take 1 group: 2 × 1 = 2.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 10 = 6, and 6 × 1 = 6 minutes.
Cut into fifths, then halve each fifth. This is why tenths and fifths are such close friends.
Common mix-ups with 1/10
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 1/10 is less than one whole; 10/1 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 1 filled and 9 empty is not 1/9. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 10 parts, filled or not.
Kids often think 1/10 beats 1/8 because 10 is the bigger number. It's the other way round: more people sharing one pie means a smaller slice each.
Play with 1/10
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 1/10 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 1/10
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
1/10 FAQ
What is 1/10 as a decimal?
1/10 = 0.1. Divide the top by the bottom: 1 ÷ 10 = 0.1.
What is 1/10 as a percent?
1/10 is 10%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 1 ÷ 10 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 1/10?
2/20, 3/30, 4/40, 5/50, 6/60 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 1/10 out loud?
Say "one tenth".
Is the fraction game really free?
Yes. The whole game plays free in your browser, with no signup, no ads and no time limit. A Fraction Bakery app for iPhone is coming later, but the web game stays free.
Take the bakery with you, soon
A Fraction Bakery app for iPhone is on the way. The plan: offline play for the car, a parent report of which fractions have stuck, and the full bakery shelf of prizes. Until then, the whole game is free right here.
Coming soon on theApp Store