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10 printable sets · answer key on every set

Fractions: Parts of a Whole Worksheets

  • CCSS 3.NF.A.1
  • 12 problems per set
  • Answer key included

What this skill is

Understanding a fraction as equal parts of one whole: the bottom number says how many equal parts, the top number says how many we mean.

When it comes up: Third grade, the first time children meet fractions as numbers.

The mistake to watch for

Using the number of unshaded parts as the bottom number. The bottom number counts all the equal parts, shaded or not.

How to help

Say it out loud with the whole: “out of 8 equal slices, 3 are eaten” — three out of eight, written 3/8.

Next: Equivalent fractions in fourth grade.

A worked example

A pizza is cut into 6 equal slices and 4 are eaten. The bottom number is how many equal slices there are in all (6). The top number is how many we mean (4). So 4/6 of the pizza was eaten, and 2/6 is left.

Words to know

fraction
A number that names equal parts of a whole, like 3/4.
numerator
The top number in a fraction. It tells how many parts we mean.
denominator
The bottom number in a fraction. It tells how many equal parts the whole is cut into.
whole
All of something. In 3 + 4 = 7, the whole is 7.
equal
The same amount. The sign = means "is equal to".

Practice

Write the fraction.

Showing Set 1 · 12 problems

  1. A ribbon is cut into 6 equal pieces. 5 pieces are red. What fraction of the ribbon is NOT red?
  2. A pizza is cut into 4 equal slices. 1 slices are eaten. What fraction of the pizza was eaten?
  3. A pizza is cut into 8 equal slices. 3 slices are eaten. What fraction of the pizza was eaten?
  4. A ribbon is cut into 5 equal pieces. 2 pieces are red. What fraction of the ribbon is NOT red?
  5. A ribbon is cut into 8 equal pieces. 1 pieces are red. What fraction of the ribbon is NOT red?
  6. A ribbon is cut into 3 equal pieces. 2 pieces are red. What fraction of the ribbon is NOT red?
  7. A pizza is cut into 2 equal slices. 1 slices are eaten. What fraction of the pizza was eaten?
  8. A pizza is cut into 3 equal slices. 2 slices are eaten. What fraction of the pizza was eaten?
  9. A pizza is cut into 6 equal slices. 1 slices are eaten. What fraction of the pizza was eaten?
  10. A ribbon is cut into 6 equal pieces. 1 pieces are red. What fraction of the ribbon is NOT red?
  11. A ribbon is cut into 2 equal pieces. 1 pieces are red. What fraction of the ribbon is NOT red?
  12. A pizza is cut into 4 equal slices. 2 slices are eaten. What fraction of the pizza was eaten?

Download this set12 problems · answer key included PDF

Answer key
  1. 1/6
  2. 1/4
  3. 3/8
  4. 3/5
  5. 7/8
  6. 1/3
  7. 1/2
  8. 2/3
  9. 1/6
  10. 5/6
  11. 1/2
  12. 2/4

All 10 sets

Each set is a different list of 12 problems with its own answer key. Use the buttons above to look at one on this page, or download any of them as a PDF.

How these sheets were made
  • Problems are generated for each set and checked against 3.NF.A.1 before the sheet is built — no duplicates, and every problem falls inside the standard's number range.

Common Core State Standards © 2010 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.