Fractions · eighths
What Is 1/8?
1/8 is one eighth: 1 part out of 8 equal parts.
1/8 means 1 out of 8 equal parts. The bottom number (8) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (1) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.125, and as a percent it's 12.5%.
1/8 in pictures
1/8 at a glance
| In words | one eighth |
| As a decimal | 0.125 |
| As a percent | 12.5% |
| Simplest form | 1/8 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 2/16, 3/24, 4/32, 5/40 |
| Compared to one half | smaller than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 7/8 |
Is 1/8 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 1 and 8, so 1/8 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 1/8
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 1 × 2 = 2 and 8 × 2 = 16, so 1/8 = 2/16. Times 3 gives 3/24. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 1/8: 2/16, 3/24, 4/32, 5/40, 6/48. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 1/8 bigger than one half?
1/8 is smaller than 1/2. One half of 8 parts is 4, and 1/8 has 1, which is fewer. Next to its neighbors: 1/8 < 2/8.
1/8 in real life
Share the 16 into 8 equal groups: 16 ÷ 8 = 2 in each group. Take 1 group: 2 × 1 = 2.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 8 = 7.5, and 7.5 × 1 = 7.5 minutes.
Halve, halve, halve. Three rounds of cutting every piece in two gives eight equal slices.
Common mix-ups with 1/8
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 1/8 is less than one whole; 8/1 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 1 filled and 7 empty is not 1/7. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 8 parts, filled or not.
Kids often think 1/8 beats 1/6 because 8 is the bigger number. It's the other way round: more people sharing one pie means a smaller slice each.
Play with 1/8
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 1/8 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 1/8
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
1/8 FAQ
What is 1/8 as a decimal?
1/8 = 0.125. Divide the top by the bottom: 1 ÷ 8 = 0.125.
What is 1/8 as a percent?
1/8 is 12.5%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 1 ÷ 8 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 1/8?
2/16, 3/24, 4/32, 5/40, 6/48 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 1/8 out loud?
Say "one eighth".
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