Skill: Identify one fourth

A one-fourth means one of 4 equal parts. We write it as $\frac{1}{4}$.

Example: A rectangle is divided into 4 equal parts. One part is shaded.

1. Count the parts: there are $4$ parts.
2. Check that the parts are equal in area. Each part is the same size.
3. Count the shaded parts: there is $1$ shaded part.
4. So the shaded part is one-fourth, or $\frac{1}{4}$.

Remember: The parts may look different because they are turned or shaped differently, but they must cover the same amount of space. Four fourths make one whole: $\frac{4}{4}=1$.