MATHEMATICS · AGES 6+

One Pie, Four Pieces

Watch a robot divide one pie into equal parts, choose a quarter, and put the whole back together.

Tap the picture to pause or play, or use the controls below. Sound is optional and off by default.

One Pie, Four Pieces how fractions are born 1 of 4 pieces 1 4 piece taken equal pieces one quarter
0 seconds

Look, pause, wonder

One whole is divided into four equal-sized quarters. The denominator 4 tells us the size of the parts; the numerator 1 counts the selected part. Four quarters make one whole. Real food cutting is approximate; this is an ideal circular model. A grown-up handles any real cutting.

Pause when the quarter reaches the plate. Which number counts the chosen piece? Which number tells you how many equal parts make the whole?

Read with Leo, Pip, and Gidget: The Pie That Became a Puzzle.

Explore the mathematics further · Back to the interactive collection