Fractions · fifths
What Is 3/5?
3/5 is three fifths: 3 parts out of 5 equal parts.
3/5 means 3 out of 5 equal parts. The bottom number (5) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (3) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.6, and as a percent it's 60%.
3/5 in pictures
3/5 at a glance
| In words | three fifths |
| As a decimal | 0.6 |
| As a percent | 60% |
| Simplest form | 3/5 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 6/10, 9/15, 12/20, 15/25 |
| Compared to one half | bigger than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 2/5 |
Is 3/5 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 3 and 5, so 3/5 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 3/5
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 3 × 2 = 6 and 5 × 2 = 10, so 3/5 = 6/10. Times 3 gives 9/15. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 3/5: 6/10, 9/15, 12/20, 15/25, 18/30. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 3/5 bigger than one half?
3/5 is bigger than 1/2. Double the top: 3 × 2 = 6. That's more than the bottom number, 5, so it's over half. Next to its neighbors: 2/5 < 3/5 < 4/5.
3/5 in real life
Share the 15 into 5 equal groups: 15 ÷ 5 = 3 in each group. Take 3 groups: 3 × 3 = 9.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 5 = 12, and 12 × 3 = 36 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 3/5
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 3/5 is less than one whole; 5/3 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 3 filled and 2 empty is not 3/2. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 5 parts, filled or not.
Play with 3/5
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 3/5 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 3/5
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
3/5 FAQ
What is 3/5 as a decimal?
3/5 = 0.6. Divide the top by the bottom: 3 ÷ 5 = 0.6.
What is 3/5 as a percent?
3/5 is 60%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 3 ÷ 5 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 3/5?
6/10, 9/15, 12/20, 15/25, 18/30 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 3/5 out loud?
Say "three 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