Your child can name a half and a quarter. But when the homework asks them to find equivalent fractions or calculate three-quarters of a number, they become unsure.
Perhaps they add the top and bottom numbers together. Perhaps they think one-eighth must be bigger than one-quarter because eight is bigger than four.
These mistakes give you a useful starting point: your child may need help understanding what fractions represent before practising more calculations.
This guide explains key Year 4 fraction skills, with worked examples, common mistakes and a free practice worksheet you can use at home.
What Fractions Should a Year 4 Child Learn?
In England’s National Curriculum, Year 4 fraction work includes recognising equivalent fractions, finding fractions of quantities, adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator, and connecting fractions with decimals. Children also develop their understanding of tenths and hundredths. Schools may organise the teaching sequence differently.
If your child attends a British curriculum school in Nigeria or elsewhere, ask the teacher which programme and learning objectives the school follows.
The examples below focus on several important foundations.
1. Understanding the Numerator and Denominator
A fraction can describe equal parts of a whole.
Consider 3/4, read as “three-quarters.”
- The denominator, 4, tells us the whole has been divided into four equal parts.
- The numerator, 3, tells us we are considering three of those parts.
Imagine a sandwich cut into four equal pieces. If a child eats three pieces, they have eaten three-quarters of the sandwich.
The word equal matters. Four pieces of different sizes do not each represent one-quarter of the sandwich.
Try It Together
Draw a rectangle and divide it into four equal sections. Ask your child to shade three.
Then ask:
“How many equal parts make the whole?”
“How many parts did you shade?”
“What fraction is unshaded?”
The unshaded fraction is 1/4.
2. Understanding Equivalent Fractions
Equivalent fractions have the same value, even though they use different numbers.
For example:
1/2 = 2/4 = 4/8
Imagine three identical strips of paper:
- Fold the first into two equal parts and shade one.
- Fold the second into four equal parts and shade two.
- Fold the third into eight equal parts and shade four.
The shaded length is the same each time. The number and size of the parts have changed, but the amount shaded has not.
Worked Example: Find an Equivalent Fraction for 2/3
Split each third into two equal pieces.
The whole now contains six equal pieces, and the shaded area covers four of them.
Therefore:
2/3 = 4/6
We can record the change by multiplying both numbers by 2:
(2 × 2)/(3 × 2) = 4/6
Avoid teaching this only as a rule. Ask your child to explain why the amount stays the same.
3. Comparing Fractions
When fractions have the same denominator, the parts are the same size.
For example:
5/8 > 3/8
Five eighths is greater than three eighths because it contains more eighth-sized parts.
Unit fractions—fractions with 1 as the numerator—need a different explanation.
For the same-sized whole:
1/4 > 1/8
Dividing a whole into eight equal parts creates smaller pieces than dividing it into four equal parts.
A Useful Question
“Would you rather have one-quarter or one-eighth of the same chocolate bar? Why?”
Ask your child to draw the portions before answering.
Always compare the same-sized whole. One-quarter of a large cake cannot be compared fairly with one-eighth of a different-sized cake using the fractions alone.
4. Adding Fractions With the Same Denominator
When the denominators are the same, add the numerators and keep the denominator.
Worked Example
2/7 + 3/7 = 5/7
Think of it as:
Two sevenths + three sevenths = five sevenths.
The pieces are still sevenths, so the denominator stays 7.
Common Mistake
A child may write:
2/7 + 3/7 = 5/14
Ask:
“If we put two seventh-sized pieces beside three more seventh-sized pieces, have the pieces changed size?”
They have not. We now have five sevenths.
This method applies when the denominators are the same. Fractions with different denominators require further work.
5. Subtracting Fractions With the Same Denominator
Subtract the numerators and keep the denominator.
Worked Example
6/9 − 2/9 = 4/9
Start with six ninths. Remove two ninths. Four ninths remain.
A drawing can help your child explain the calculation:
- Divide a rectangle into nine equal sections.
- Shade six sections.
- Cross out two shaded sections.
- Count the shaded sections remaining.
Encourage your child to say the fraction names aloud as they work.
6. Finding a Fraction of a Quantity
To find a fraction of a quantity, begin by finding one equal share.
Worked Example: Find 3/4 of 20
Step 1: Find one-quarter.
Divide 20 into four equal groups:
20 ÷ 4 = 5
Each group contains 5.
Step 2: Find three-quarters.
Take three groups:
5 × 3 = 15
Therefore:
3/4 of 20 = 15
Make It Practical
Use 20 counters, buttons or small blocks.
Ask your child to arrange them into four equal groups, then select three groups.
This connects the calculation to something they can see and explain.
7. Connecting Fractions and Decimals
Fractions and decimals can represent the same amount.
Useful connections include:
FractionDecimal1/100.13/100.31/1000.0125/100 = 1/40.2550/100 = 1/20.575/100 = 3/40.75
For example, 0.3 means three tenths, so:
3/10 = 0.3
A hundred-square grid can help children see that shading 25 out of 100 equal squares covers one-quarter of the grid.
Free Year 4 Fractions Practice Worksheet
Use the questions below for independent practice. Your child can write their working in an exercise book.
Encourage drawings where helpful, and keep the answer section covered until they finish.
Section A: Understanding Fractions
1. In the fraction 5/8, identify:
a. The numerator.
b. The denominator.
2. Draw a rectangle divided into six equal parts. Shade four parts and write the fraction shaded.
3. A circle is divided into eight equal sections. Three sections are shaded. What fraction is unshaded?
Section B: Equivalent Fractions
4. Complete:
1/2 = ___/8
5. Complete:
2/3 = ___/6
6. Complete:
3/4 = ___/12
Section C: Comparing Fractions
7. Insert >, < or =:
5/9 ___ 2/9
8. Insert >, < or =:
1/6 ___ 1/3
9. Explain why 2/4 and 1/2 have the same value. Use a drawing if helpful.
Section D: Adding and Subtracting
10. Calculate:
3/8 + 2/8
11. Calculate:
7/10 − 4/10
12. Aisha reads 2/9 of a book on Monday and 4/9 on Tuesday. What fraction of the book has she read altogether?
Section E: Fractions of Quantities
13. Find 1/4 of 28.
14. Find 3/5 of 30.
15. There are 24 pencils in a box. Three-quarters are blue. How many pencils are blue?
Section F: Fractions and Decimals
16. Write 7/10 as a decimal.
17. Write 1/4 as a decimal.
18. Write 0.09 as a fraction with a denominator of 100.
Reasoning Challenge
19. Daniel says:
“1/8 is bigger than 1/4 because 8 is bigger than 4.”
Is Daniel correct? Explain using the same-sized whole.
20. A learner writes:
2/7 + 3/7 = 5/14
Explain the mistake and write the correct answer.
Answers and Explanations
QuestionAnswer1Numerator: 5. Denominator: 8.24/6 shaded. Accept an accurately divided and shaded rectangle.35/84454697>8<9Two of four equal parts cover the same amount as one of two equal parts of an identical whole.105/8113/10126/9; also accept 2/3.13714181518 pencils160.7170.25189/10019No. For the same-sized whole, eighths are smaller than quarters, so 1/8 < 1/4.20The learner added the denominators. The parts remain sevenths, so the answer is 5/7.
What Your Child’s Mistakes Can Tell You
Use the worksheet to start a conversation rather than focusing only on the total score.
If your child struggles to label fractions, revisit equal parts and the meaning of each number.
If equivalent fractions are difficult, try paper folding or fraction strips.
If addition goes wrong, ask your child to name the parts aloud: “two sevenths plus three sevenths.”
If fractions of quantities are difficult, practise sharing objects into equal groups before writing calculations.
Correct answers are useful, but explanations help you see whether your child understands the method.
This short worksheet covers selected skills. It is not a complete assessment of every Year 4 fraction objective.
How Parents Can Help at Home
Choose a small number of questions and give your child time to think.
Useful prompts include:
- “Can you draw it?”
- “What does the denominator tell you?”
- “How do you know the parts are equal?”
- “Can you show the same amount another way?”
- “Does your answer make sense?”
If your child becomes frustrated, return to a simpler example or take a break. Discuss recurring difficulties with their teacher or tutor so the next practice addresses the specific gap.
Year 4 Maths Support With Glareminds
Glareminds provides one-to-one online Maths tutoring, including support for British curriculum learners in Nigeria and abroad.
Lessons can focus on helping a child understand fraction models, explain their reasoning and apply methods independently.
A free 30–40-minute consultation and diagnostic session provides an opportunity to discuss your child’s learning needs and a suitable support plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my child add the denominators?
They may be treating a fraction as two separate whole numbers. Use drawings to show that adding thirds, quarters or sevenths does not change the size of those parts.
Should my child always simplify their answers?
Follow the question’s instructions and the school’s expectations. For example, 4/8 and 1/2 have the same value. Discussing both forms can strengthen understanding of equivalence.
Does my child need multiplication facts for fractions?
Multiplication and division facts are useful when finding equivalent fractions and fractions of quantities. If these facts are not secure, use objects and drawings alongside the calculations.
Is this worksheet suitable for every British curriculum school?
It offers practice in selected fraction skills relevant to Year 4 learning. Check your child’s current school objectives before using it as a revision checklist.
Help Your Child Understand What Fractions Mean
Start with equal parts, use clear examples and ask your child to explain their thinking.
When you know which step is causing difficulty, you can make practice more focused and useful.
To discuss personalised Maths support, book a free consultation with Glareminds.
Call or WhatsApp: +2347039472179
Website: https://glareminds.com/