1/3 means 1 out of 3 equal parts. The bottom number (3) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (1) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.333… (the 3 repeats forever), and as a percent it's about 33.3%.
1/3 in pictures
1/3 at a glance
| In words | one third |
| As a decimal | 0.333… (the 3 repeats forever) |
| As a percent | about 33.3% |
| Simplest form | 1/3 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 2/6, 3/9, 4/12, 5/15 |
| Compared to one half | smaller than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 2/3 |
Is 1/3 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 1 and 3, so 1/3 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 1/3
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 1 × 2 = 2 and 3 × 2 = 6, so 1/3 = 2/6. Times 3 gives 3/9. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 1/3: 2/6, 3/9, 4/12, 5/15, 6/18. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 1/3 bigger than one half?
1/3 is smaller than 1/2. Double the top: 1 × 2 = 2. That's less than the bottom number, 3, so it's under half. Next to its neighbors: 1/3 < 2/3.
1/3 in real life
Share the 12 into 3 equal groups: 12 ÷ 3 = 4 in each group. Take 1 group: 4 × 1 = 4.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 3 = 20, and 20 × 1 = 20 minutes.
Thirds are the awkward cut. Make three cuts from the center, spaced evenly like a Y. Halving won't get you there, because 3 is odd.
Common mix-ups with 1/3
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 1/3 is less than one whole; 3/1 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 1 filled and 2 empty is not 1/2. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 3 parts, filled or not.
Kids often think 1/3 beats 1/2 because 3 is the bigger number. It's the other way round: more people sharing one pie means a smaller slice each.
Play with 1/3
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 1/3 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 1/3
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
1/3 FAQ
What is 1/3 as a decimal?
1/3 = 0.333… Divide the top by the bottom: 1 ÷ 3. The digit 3 repeats forever, so it never ends.
What is 1/3 as a percent?
1/3 is about 33.3%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 1 ÷ 3 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 1/3?
2/6, 3/9, 4/12, 5/15, 6/18 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 1/3 out loud?
Say "one third".
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