Fraction of a Number (Grade 4)
Finding the fraction of a number means calculating a part of a whole quantity. If Aman has 20 mangoes and gives away 1/4 of them, you need to find 1/4 of 20 to know how many he gave away.
This concept is used in everyday life — finding half the price, a quarter of a distance, or three-fifths of a total score.
What is Fraction of a Number - Class 4 Maths (Fractions)?
To find a fraction of a number, multiply the fraction by the number.
Fraction of a Number = (Numerator ÷ Denominator) x Number
OR
Fraction of a Number = (Number ÷ Denominator) x Numerator
Method:
- Divide the number by the denominator (to find one part).
- Multiply the result by the numerator (to find the required number of parts).
Solved Examples
Example 1: Example 1: Finding 1/4 of a Number
Problem: Find 1/4 of 28.
Solution:
Step 1: Divide 28 by 4: 28 ÷ 4 = 7
Step 2: Multiply by 1: 7 x 1 = 7
Answer: 1/4 of 28 = 7
Example 2: Example 2: Finding 3/5 of a Number
Problem: Find 3/5 of 45.
Solution:
Step 1: Divide 45 by 5: 45 ÷ 5 = 9
Step 2: Multiply by 3: 9 x 3 = 27
Answer: 3/5 of 45 = 27
Example 3: Example 3: Finding 2/3 of a Number
Problem: Find 2/3 of 36.
Solution:
Step 1: 36 ÷ 3 = 12
Step 2: 12 x 2 = 24
Answer: 2/3 of 36 = 24
Example 4: Example 4: Word Problem — Money
Problem: Priya has ₹200. She spends 3/4 of it on books. How much did she spend?
Solution:
Step 1: 200 ÷ 4 = 50
Step 2: 50 x 3 = 150
Answer: Priya spent ₹150 on books.
Example 5: Example 5: Word Problem — Distance
Problem: A road is 60 km long. Kavi has driven 2/5 of the road. How far has he driven?
Solution:
Step 1: 60 ÷ 5 = 12
Step 2: 12 x 2 = 24
Answer: Kavi has driven 24 km.
Example 6: Example 6: Finding the Whole When Fraction is Known
Problem: 1/3 of a number is 15. What is the number?
Solution:
Step 1: If 1/3 of the number = 15, then the whole number = 15 x 3 = 45.
Answer: The number is 45.
Example 7: Example 7: Word Problem — Students
Problem: There are 40 students in a class. 3/8 of them play cricket. How many students play cricket?
Solution:
Step 1: 40 ÷ 8 = 5
Step 2: 5 x 3 = 15
Answer: 15 students play cricket.
Example 8: Example 8: Finding 1/2 of a Number
Problem: Find 1/2 of 84.
Solution:
84 ÷ 2 = 42
Answer: 1/2 of 84 = 42
Example 9: Example 9: Word Problem — Remaining Portion
Problem: Aditi has 30 chocolates. She gives away 2/5 of them. How many does she have left?
Solution:
Step 1: Find 2/5 of 30: 30 ÷ 5 = 6, then 6 x 2 = 12
Step 2: Remaining = 30 − 12 = 18
Answer: Aditi has 18 chocolates left.
Example 10: Example 10: Comparing Fractions of a Number
Problem: Which is more: 2/3 of 18 or 3/4 of 16?
Solution:
2/3 of 18: 18 ÷ 3 = 6, then 6 x 2 = 12
3/4 of 16: 16 ÷ 4 = 4, then 4 x 3 = 12
Answer: Both are equal — 12.
Key Points to Remember
- To find a fraction of a number: divide by the denominator, multiply by the numerator.
- Finding 1/2 of a number is the same as dividing by 2.
- Finding 1/4 of a number is the same as dividing by 4.
- To find the whole when a fraction part is known, multiply the part by the denominator and divide by the numerator.
- This concept is used in money, distance, weight, and time problems.
- "Of" in maths means multiply.
Practice Problems
- Find 1/3 of 27.
- Find 4/5 of 35.
- Rahul scored 3/4 of the total 80 marks. How many marks did he score?
- There are 50 mangoes. 2/5 are ripe. How many are ripe?
- 1/6 of a number is 9. What is the number?
- A tank holds 120 litres of water. 5/8 of it has been used. How many litres remain?
- Which is greater: 2/3 of 24 or 3/5 of 25?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do you find a fraction of a number?
Divide the number by the denominator to find one part, then multiply by the numerator. For example, 3/4 of 20: divide 20 by 4 to get 5, then multiply 5 by 3 to get 15.
Q2. What does 'of' mean in fraction problems?
'Of' means 'multiply' in maths. So 3/4 of 20 means 3/4 x 20 = 15.
Q3. How do you find the whole number when a fraction is given?
If 1/n of a number is x, then the whole number is x multiplied by n. For example, if 1/5 of a number is 8, the number is 8 x 5 = 40.
Q4. Is finding half the same as dividing by 2?
Yes. Finding 1/2 of a number is exactly the same as dividing it by 2. For example, 1/2 of 50 = 50 / 2 = 25.
Q5. Can you find a fraction of a fraction?
Yes, but this is studied in Class 5. For example, 1/2 of 1/3 = 1/6. In Class 4, you focus on finding fractions of whole numbers.
Q6. How do you find the remaining part after taking a fraction?
Find the fraction of the number, then subtract from the total. Alternatively, subtract the fraction from 1 first. If you take 2/5, the remaining fraction is 3/5.
Q7. Where is this concept used in daily life?
Finding fraction of a number is used in calculating discounts (1/4 off), sharing food equally, measuring ingredients in recipes, and calculating portions of distance or time.
Q8. Is finding fraction of a number in the NCERT Class 4 syllabus?
Yes, finding fraction of a number is an important part of the CBSE/NCERT Class 4 Maths curriculum under the fractions chapter.
Related Topics
- Fractions (Grade 4)
- Fraction Word Problems (Grade 4)
- Equivalent Fractions (Grade 4)
- Simplifying Fractions
- Comparing Fractions (Grade 4)
- Ordering Fractions
- Addition of Fractions (Grade 4)
- Subtraction of Fractions (Grade 4)
- Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions
- Fractions on a Number Line (Grade 4)
- Proper and Improper Fractions
