Fractions · eighths
What Is 3/8?
3/8 is three eighths: 3 parts out of 8 equal parts.
3/8 means 3 out of 8 equal parts. The bottom number (8) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (3) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.375, and as a percent it's 37.5%.
3/8 in pictures
3/8 at a glance
| In words | three eighths |
| As a decimal | 0.375 |
| As a percent | 37.5% |
| Simplest form | 3/8 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 6/16, 9/24, 12/32, 15/40 |
| Compared to one half | smaller than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 5/8 |
Is 3/8 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 3 and 8, so 3/8 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 3/8
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 3 × 2 = 6 and 8 × 2 = 16, so 3/8 = 6/16. Times 3 gives 9/24. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 3/8: 6/16, 9/24, 12/32, 15/40, 18/48. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 3/8 bigger than one half?
3/8 is smaller than 1/2. One half of 8 parts is 4, and 3/8 has 3, which is fewer. Next to its neighbors: 2/8 < 3/8 < 4/8.
3/8 in real life
Share the 16 into 8 equal groups: 16 ÷ 8 = 2 in each group. Take 3 groups: 2 × 3 = 6.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 8 = 7.5, and 7.5 × 3 = 22.5 minutes.
Halve, halve, halve. Three rounds of cutting every piece in two gives eight equal slices.
Common mix-ups with 3/8
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 3/8 is less than one whole; 8/3 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 3 filled and 5 empty is not 3/5. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 8 parts, filled or not.
Play with 3/8
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 3/8 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 3/8
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
3/8 FAQ
What is 3/8 as a decimal?
3/8 = 0.375. Divide the top by the bottom: 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375.
What is 3/8 as a percent?
3/8 is 37.5%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 3 ÷ 8 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 3/8?
6/16, 9/24, 12/32, 15/40, 18/48 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 3/8 out loud?
Say "three eighths".
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