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Basic 1 · Mathematics · Fractions

Counting in Halves

In this topic you will count using halves: one-half, two-halves, three-halves and more.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Count halves of objects
  • Say how many halves make one, two and three wholes
  • Use the words one-half, two-halves, three-halves

What you already know

  • One-half

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Number
Sub-strand
Fractions
Indicator
B1.1.3.1.2 – Count in halves using concrete and pictorial representations of halves

Introduction

Mother cuts 2 oranges in half. Now there are many halves on the plate. Let us count them.

1. Counting Halves

We count halves like this:

one-half, two-halves, three-halves, four-halves.

Four orange halves in a row labelled one-half to four-halves
Figure 1: Counting orange halves Draw the four halves and write their names.Illustration: Sirbus

2. Halves and Wholes

Halves and wholes
HalvesWholes
2 halves1 whole
4 halves2 wholes
6 halves3 wholes

Example

How many halves are in 2 oranges?

  1. 1 orange has 2 halves.
  2. 2 oranges have 2 + 2 halves.

Answer: 4 halves.

Remember: Two halves make one whole.

New words

halves
More than one half.
one-half
One of two equal parts.
two-halves
Two equal parts that make one whole.
whole
One complete thing.

Summary

  • We count halves: one-half, two-halves, three-halves.
  • Two halves make one whole.
  • Four halves make two wholes.

Class activity: Half Count

  1. Your teacher gives your group fraction strips cut in halves.
  2. Count the halves aloud.
  3. Join two halves to make a whole.
  4. Say how many wholes you made.

You need: Fraction strips cut from old cartons, Bottle tops, Exercise books

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. How many halves make one whole?

    • A. 1
    • B. 2
    • C. 3
    • D. 4
    Show answer
    Answer: 2Two halves make one whole.

  2. 2. How many wholes do 6 halves make?

    • A. 2
    • B. 3
    • C. 6
    • D. 12
    Show answer
    Answer: 3Every 2 halves make 1 whole.

  3. 3. One-half, two-halves, three-halves is counting in halves.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueWe add one half each time.

  4. 4. 4 halves make 4 wholes.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: False4 halves make 2 wholes.

  5. 5. one-half, two-halves, ______, four-halves

    Show answer
    Answer: three-halvesOne more half after two-halves.

  6. 6. Ama has 3 bread halves. How many halves does she need to make 2 wholes?

    Show answer
    Answer: 1 more half2 wholes need 4 halves; she has 3.

Homework

  1. Draw 3 circles. Cut each into halves. Count all the halves.