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fractions

Fifths and tenths

Connect fractions to fingers, ten frames, decimals and percentages.

Quick answer

Fifths and tenths are fractions that help us split things into 5 or 10 equal parts. You can see them in everyday life like when sharing a pizza or looking at a number line.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to:
  • Split shapes and objects into 5 equal parts or 10 equal parts
  • Recognise and write fractions like 1/5 and 1/10
  • Compare fifths and tenths using real-life examples
  • Understand how tenths connect to decimals and percentages

Why this matters

Fractions help us understand parts of a whole. When you share a cake with friends, split a pizza, or measure ingredients for a recipe, you are using fractions. Understanding fifths and tenths helps you:
  • Work with money (like 10p, 20p, 50p coins)
  • Measure things more accurately
  • Understand how decimals and percentages work
  • Build a strong base for more complex maths

How it works

Fractions are made of two numbers:
  • The bottom number (denominator) tells us how many equal parts the whole is split into
  • The top number (numerator) tells us how many parts we have
For fifths:
  • 1/5 means one part out of five equal parts
  • If you split a pizza into 5 slices, each slice is 1/5 of the pizza
For tenths:
  • 1/10 means one part out of ten equal parts
  • If you split a bar of chocolate into 10 pieces, each piece is 1/10 of the chocolate

Examples you can see

Let's explore fifths and tenths using fingers, ten frames, and real-life examples. Fingers and hands
  • One hand has 5 fingers, so each finger is 1/5 of your hand
  • Two hands have 10 fingers, so each finger is 1/10 of your hands
Ten frames A ten frame is a grid with 10 spaces. If you fill 3 spaces, you have 3/10 of the frame.
Spaces filled Fraction Decimal Percentage
1 1/10 0.1 10%
2 2/10 0.2 20%
3 3/10 0.3 30%
5 5/10 0.5 50%
10 10/10 1.0 100%
Real-life examples
  • Sharing pizza: If you split a pizza into 5 pieces and eat 1 piece, you eat 1/5 of the pizza
  • Counting money: 10p is 1/10 of a pound
  • Measuring time: 10 minutes is 1/10 of an hour
  • Classroom sharing: If 10 children share 10 crayons equally, each child gets 1/10 of the crayons

Try it as a mini adventure

The Fraction Fair You are at a fraction fair with your friend. There are 10 stalls, and you want to visit each one equally. Step 1: You have 10 minutes to visit all 10 stalls. How much time do you spend at each stall? Answer: 10 ÷ 10 = 1 minute at each stall, or 1/10 of your time. Step 2: You have 5 stickers to share equally among 5 friends. How many stickers does each friend get? Answer: 5 ÷ 5 = 1 sticker, or 1/5 of the stickers. Step 3: You have 10 sweets and want to eat 3 of them. What fraction of the sweets have you eaten? Answer: 3/10 of the sweets. Step 4: You are building a tower with 10 blocks and want to use 4 blocks for the base. What fraction of the blocks are in the base? Answer: 4/10 of the blocks.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 1/5 is the same as 1/10 because they both have a 1
    Why it happens: Confusing the numerator (top number) with the denominator (bottom number)
    Fix: Remember that 1/5 means one part out of five equal parts, while 1/10 means one part out of ten equal parts
  • Mistake: Drawing a circle and dividing it into 5 parts that are not equal
    Why it happens: Not understanding that fractions must be equal parts
    Fix: Use a ruler or fold carefully to make sure all parts are the same size
  • Mistake: Mixing up 1/10 and 1/5 when comparing
    Why it happens: Not realising that 1/5 is bigger than 1/10 because 5 is smaller than 10
    Fix: Remember that the smaller the bottom number, the bigger each part is

Parent and carer guide

To help your child learn about fifths and tenths:
  • Use everyday situations like sharing food or counting coins
  • Draw circles and divide them into 5 or 10 equal parts
  • Play games with fingers – count how many fingers make a whole hand
  • Use a ten frame or counters to show 1/10
  • Ask questions like: "If we split this pizza into 10 pieces, how much is 1 piece?"
  • Don't worry if they get confused at first – fractions take time to understand
  • Be patient and celebrate small wins

Practice questions

  1. What fraction of a hand is one finger? Answer: 1/5
  2. If you have 10 pencils and give 1 to each of 10 friends, how much does each friend get? Answer: 1/10
  3. How many tenths make a whole? Answer: 10 tenths
  4. What is 1/10 of 20? Answer: 2
  5. If you split 10 sweets between 5 friends, how many does each friend get? Answer: 2 sweets, or 2/10
  6. How many fifths make a whole? Answer: 5 fifths
  7. What is 3/10 of 30? Answer: 9
  8. Draw a circle divided into 5 equal parts. Shade 1 part. What fraction is shaded? Answer: 1/5
  9. What fraction of 100 is 10? Answer: 1/10
  10. How many 1/10 pieces make 1/5? Answer: 2 pieces

FAQ

What does 1/5 mean?

1/5 means one part out of five equal parts. If you split something into 5 equal pieces, 1/5 is one of those pieces.

How are fifths and tenths connected?

Both are fractions that split a whole into equal parts. 1/5 means splitting into 5 parts, 1/10 means splitting into 10 parts. 1/5 is bigger than 1/10 because 5 is smaller than 10.

Can I use tenths with decimals?

Yes! 1/10 is the same as 0.1 in decimal form. 3/10 is the same as 0.3.

How do I know if a fraction is correct?

Check that the whole is split into equal parts. If you have 10 pieces and they are all the same size, then each piece is 1/10 of the whole.

What are some fun ways to learn about fifths and tenths?

Use your fingers, draw shapes, play sharing games, use counters or blocks, and look for examples in your daily life like pizza or coins.