How it works
A fair share means equal parts: the same size. Parts that are not equal are not fair.
Two equal parts are halves. Three are thirds. Four are fourths, or quarters.
More equal parts means each part is smaller: a fourth is smaller than a half.
Worked examples
Is it cut fairly?
- A square is cut into 3 pieces. Two pieces are the same size and one is bigger.
- Fair shares must all be the same size, so these are not thirds.
- A square cut into 3 equal pieces is cut into thirds.
Which is smaller?
- Cut one pizza into 2 equal parts. Cut another pizza of the same size into 4 equal parts.