1/2 means 1 out of 2 equal parts. The bottom number (2) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (1) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.5, and as a percent it's 50%.
1/2 in pictures
1/2 at a glance
| In words | one half |
| As a decimal | 0.5 |
| As a percent | 50% |
| Simplest form | 1/2 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 2/4, 3/6, 4/8, 5/10 |
| Left to make a whole | 1/2 |
Is 1/2 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 1 and 2, so 1/2 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 1/2
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 1 × 2 = 2 and 2 × 2 = 4, so 1/2 = 2/4. Times 3 gives 3/6. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 1/2: 2/4, 3/6, 4/8, 5/10, 6/12. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
1/2 in real life
Share the 16 into 2 equal groups: 16 ÷ 2 = 8 in each group. Take 1 group: 8 × 1 = 8.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 2 = 30, and 30 × 1 = 30 minutes.
One cut straight through the middle makes halves. Check by folding: the two sides should match exactly.
Common mix-ups with 1/2
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 1/2 is less than one whole; 2/1 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 1 filled and 1 empty is not 1/1. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 2 parts, filled or not.
Play with 1/2
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 1/2 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 1/2
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
1/2 FAQ
What is 1/2 as a decimal?
1/2 = 0.5. Divide the top by the bottom: 1 ÷ 2 = 0.5.
What is 1/2 as a percent?
1/2 is 50%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 1 ÷ 2 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 1/2?
2/4, 3/6, 4/8, 5/10, 6/12 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 1/2 out loud?
Say "one half".
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