Fractions · quarters
What Is 1/4?
1/4 is one quarter (also called one fourth): 1 part out of 4 equal parts.
1/4 means 1 out of 4 equal parts. The bottom number (4) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (1) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.25, and as a percent it's 25%.
1/4 in pictures
1/4 at a glance
| In words | one quarter, or one fourth |
| As a decimal | 0.25 |
| As a percent | 25% |
| Simplest form | 1/4 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 2/8, 3/12, 4/16, 5/20 |
| Compared to one half | smaller than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 3/4 |
Is 1/4 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 1 and 4, so 1/4 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 1/4
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 1 × 2 = 2 and 4 × 2 = 8, so 1/4 = 2/8. Times 3 gives 3/12. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 1/4: 2/8, 3/12, 4/16, 5/20, 6/24. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 1/4 bigger than one half?
1/4 is smaller than 1/2. One half of 4 parts is 2, and 1/4 has 1, which is fewer. Next to its neighbors: 1/4 < 2/4.
1/4 in real life
Share the 16 into 4 equal groups: 16 ÷ 4 = 4 in each group. Take 1 group: 4 × 1 = 4.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 4 = 15, and 15 × 1 = 15 minutes.
Cut in half, then cut across the first cut. Each half has been halved, so four equal slices.
Common mix-ups with 1/4
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 1/4 is less than one whole; 4/1 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 1 filled and 3 empty is not 1/3. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 4 parts, filled or not.
Kids often think 1/4 beats 1/3 because 4 is the bigger number. It's the other way round: more people sharing one pie means a smaller slice each.
Play with 1/4
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 1/4 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 1/4
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
1/4 FAQ
What is 1/4 as a decimal?
1/4 = 0.25. Divide the top by the bottom: 1 ÷ 4 = 0.25.
What is 1/4 as a percent?
1/4 is 25%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 1 ÷ 4 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 1/4?
2/8, 3/12, 4/16, 5/20, 6/24 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 1/4 out loud?
Say "one quarter" or "one fourth". Both are right; US classrooms usually say fourths.
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