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Basic 1 · Mathematics · Fractions

Half of a Group

In this topic you will find half of a group of objects by sharing them equally into two groups.

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

  • Share a group of objects equally into two
  • Find half of a small group of objects
  • Check that the two groups are equal

What you already know

  • One-half of a shape

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
B1.1.3.1.1 – Understand the fraction one-half as the quantity obtained by taking 1 part when a whole is partitioned into two equal parts

Introduction

Ama has 10 sweets. She wants to share them equally with Kofi. Each child gets half of the sweets.

1. Finding Half of a Group

Steps

  1. Make two empty groups.
  2. Give one object to each group, in turn.
  3. Stop when all objects are shared.
  4. Count one group. That is half.
Ten sweets shared into two plates of five
Figure 1: Half of 10 sweets is 5 Draw two plates with 5 sweets each.Illustration: Sirbus

Example

Find half of 10 sweets.

  1. Share the sweets one by one into two plates.
  2. Each plate gets 5 sweets.

Answer: Half of 10 is 5.

Halves of groups
GroupHalf
21
42
63
84
105

Remember: To find half, share into two equal groups.

New words

group
Things put together.
share equally
To give the same number to each.
half of
One of two equal groups.
double
Two times a number; half undoes double.

Summary

  • To find half of a group, share it into two equal groups.
  • Half of 10 is 5.
  • Both groups must have the same number.

Class activity: Fair Sharing

  1. Take 8 bottle tops.
  2. Share them between you and your partner, one at a time.
  3. Count your bottle tops. That is half of 8.
  4. Try again with 6 and with 12 bottle tops.

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. What is half of 4?

    • A. 1
    • B. 2
    • C. 3
    • D. 4
    Show answer
    Answer: 24 shared into two groups gives 2 each.

  2. 2. What is half of 12?

    • A. 4
    • B. 5
    • C. 6
    • D. 10
    Show answer
    Answer: 66 + 6 = 12.

  3. 3. Half of 8 is 4.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: True4 + 4 = 8.

  4. 4. Half of 6 is 2.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseHalf of 6 is 3, because 3 + 3 = 6.

  5. 5. Half of 10 is ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: 55 + 5 = 10.

  6. 6. Kwesi shares 14 groundnuts with his brother equally. How many does each get?

    Show answer
    Answer: 7 groundnutsHalf of 14 is 7.

Homework

  1. Share 10 spoons or stones into two equal groups. How many in each group?