Fractions · fifths
What Is 2/5?
2/5 is two fifths: 2 parts out of 5 equal parts.
2/5 means 2 out of 5 equal parts. The bottom number (5) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (2) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.4, and as a percent it's 40%.
2/5 in pictures
2/5 at a glance
| In words | two fifths |
| As a decimal | 0.4 |
| As a percent | 40% |
| Simplest form | 2/5 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 4/10, 6/15, 8/20, 10/25 |
| Compared to one half | smaller than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 3/5 |
Is 2/5 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 2 and 5, so 2/5 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 2/5
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 2 × 2 = 4 and 5 × 2 = 10, so 2/5 = 4/10. Times 3 gives 6/15. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 2/5: 4/10, 6/15, 8/20, 10/25, 12/30. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 2/5 bigger than one half?
2/5 is smaller than 1/2. Double the top: 2 × 2 = 4. That's less than the bottom number, 5, so it's under half. Next to its neighbors: 1/5 < 2/5 < 3/5.
2/5 in real life
Share the 15 into 5 equal groups: 15 ÷ 5 = 3 in each group. Take 2 groups: 3 × 2 = 6.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 5 = 12, and 12 × 2 = 24 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 2/5
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 2/5 is less than one whole; 5/2 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 2 filled and 3 empty is not 2/3. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 5 parts, filled or not.
Play with 2/5
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 2/5 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 2/5
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
2/5 FAQ
What is 2/5 as a decimal?
2/5 = 0.4. Divide the top by the bottom: 2 ÷ 5 = 0.4.
What is 2/5 as a percent?
2/5 is 40%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 2 ÷ 5 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 2/5?
4/10, 6/15, 8/20, 10/25, 12/30 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 2/5 out loud?
Say "two fifths".
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