1/5 means 1 out of 5 equal parts. The bottom number (5) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (1) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.2, and as a percent it's 20%.
1/5 in pictures
1/5 at a glance
| In words | one fifth |
| As a decimal | 0.2 |
| As a percent | 20% |
| Simplest form | 1/5 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 2/10, 3/15, 4/20, 5/25 |
| Compared to one half | smaller than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 4/5 |
Is 1/5 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 1 and 5, so 1/5 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 1/5
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 1 × 2 = 2 and 5 × 2 = 10, so 1/5 = 2/10. Times 3 gives 3/15. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 1/5: 2/10, 3/15, 4/20, 5/25, 6/30. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 1/5 bigger than one half?
1/5 is smaller than 1/2. Double the top: 1 × 2 = 2. That's less than the bottom number, 5, so it's under half. Next to its neighbors: 1/5 < 2/5.
1/5 in real life
Share the 20 into 5 equal groups: 20 ÷ 5 = 4 in each group. Take 1 group: 4 × 1 = 4.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 5 = 12, and 12 × 1 = 12 minutes.
Fifths can't come from halving either. Start with one cut from the center, then space four more evenly, like the points of a star.
Common mix-ups with 1/5
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 1/5 is less than one whole; 5/1 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 1 filled and 4 empty is not 1/4. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 5 parts, filled or not.
Kids often think 1/5 beats 1/4 because 5 is the bigger number. It's the other way round: more people sharing one pie means a smaller slice each.
Play with 1/5
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 1/5 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 1/5
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
1/5 FAQ
What is 1/5 as a decimal?
1/5 = 0.2. Divide the top by the bottom: 1 ÷ 5 = 0.2.
What is 1/5 as a percent?
1/5 is 20%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 1 ÷ 5 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 1/5?
2/10, 3/15, 4/20, 5/25, 6/30 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 1/5 out loud?
Say "one fifth".
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