Maths Guru
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Fractions Games for Kids

Fractions are where many children first feel maths get tricky, yet they are just numbers that describe parts of a whole. Maths Guru starts with pictures of pieces and builds up to equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting, and converting to decimals.

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What fractions really mean

A fraction describes equal parts of a whole. In 3/4, the bottom number (denominator) says the whole is cut into 4 equal parts, and the top number (numerator) says we are talking about 3 of them. Cutting a roti into 4 equal pieces and eating 3 shows 3/4.

Children also need to see that fractions are numbers on a number line. 1/2 sits between 0 and 1, and so does 3/4. Understanding that 1/2 is the same as 2/4 and 3/6 is the idea of equivalent fractions, and it is the key to comparing, adding and simplifying later.

Fractions are connected to division (1/4 of 20 is 20 ÷ 4) and to decimals and percentages (3/4 = 0.75 = 75%). Knowing these links makes real-life situations such as sharing, measuring and telling the time much easier.

Common mistakes to watch for

The classic error is adding the tops and the bottoms, so that 1/2 + 1/3 becomes 2/5. In fact, with the same denominator you just add the numerators: 1/4 + 2/4 = 3/4, and the bottom stays at 4 because the pieces are the same size.

Another is thinking that a bigger denominator means a bigger fraction. Children see 1/8 and believe it beats 1/4 because 8 is bigger than 4. Drawing a pizza cut into 8 slices versus 4 shows that more slices means smaller slices.

A third is forgetting that the parts must be equal. A circle cut into 4 unequal pieces does not show quarters. Finally, when making equivalent fractions, children sometimes only multiply the denominator: 1/2 = ?/6 needs the top multiplied by 3 too, giving 3/6.

How to practise at home

The kitchen is the best fractions classroom. Cutting a pizza, a cake or a roti into halves, quarters and eighths makes the idea physical. Ask "how much is left if we eat 3 of the 8 slices?" and write the answer as 5/8.

Fold a strip of paper into halves, then quarters, then eighths, and label each piece. Lay the folded strips side by side to see that 2/4 matches 1/2 and that 4/8 matches both.

Use measuring jugs and cups, which often show 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4. Ask your child to explain, in their own words, why 2/4 and 1/2 are equal. Being able to explain it is the best sign that they understand rather than memorise.

How Maths Guru teaches fractions

Sky Palace in Conquer the World is the fractions island and opens up for the Year 2 to 3 group and above. Younger players start with block-picture questions, where they choose the grid that shows a fraction such as 3/5, then move on to adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator and finding equivalent fractions such as 1/2 = ?/6. Higher levels cover converting between fractions and decimals (3/4 = 0.75) and adding or subtracting decimals.

Fractions also feature in Time Skip's Advanced tier, Neon Clash's forge, Number Kingdoms (Temples, where winning builds Shakti) and Classroom quizzes. Word problems in Number Kingdoms' Bazaars and Time Skip's Expert tier also ask for a fraction of an amount, such as three-fifths of 20, which turns fractions into real quantities.

Worked examples

1/4 + 2/4

Answer: 3/4

The pieces are the same size (quarters), so add the tops: 1 + 2 = 3. The answer is 3/4.

4/5 − 1/5

Answer: 3/5

Same denominator, so subtract the numerators: 4 − 1 = 3. The fifths stay as fifths, giving 3/5.

1/2 = ?/6

Answer: 3

The bottom was multiplied by 3 to go from 2 to 6, so multiply the top by 3 as well: 1 × 3 = 3. So 1/2 = 3/6.

3/4 = ?/12

Answer: 9

The denominator is multiplied by 3 (4 × 3 = 12), so the numerator is too: 3 × 3 = 9.

3/5 of 20

Answer: 12

Find one fifth first: 20 ÷ 5 = 4. Then three fifths is 3 × 4 = 12.

3/4 as a decimal

Answer: 0.75

A quarter is 0.25, so three quarters is 3 × 0.25 = 0.75. This is also 75%.

Tips for parents

  • Start with real food and paper folding before using any written fractions.
  • Show equal sharing in pictures: draw one whole and split it into equal parts.
  • Practise one rule at a time. First same-denominator addition, then equivalent fractions, then different denominators.
  • Use a number line from 0 to 1 and mark halves, quarters and eighths to build the idea of size.
  • Ask "is that more or less than a half?" whenever you meet a fraction in daily life.

Practise it in these games

Questions parents ask

At what age do children learn fractions?

Halves and quarters are taught at ages 5 to 7. Adding and comparing fractions come at about 8 to 10 (Class 3 to 5). In Maths Guru, the Sky Palace island opens in the Year 2 to 3 band, ages 6 to 8.

Why do children find fractions hard?

A fraction is two numbers describing one quantity, and whole-number habits (bigger digit means bigger number) mislead. Using pictures and real objects rather than rules alone makes the ideas stick.

Does Maths Guru cover decimals and percentages as well?

Yes. Its fractions levels link fractions to decimals, and there are separate islands for decimals and percentages in Conquer the World. See our decimals and percentages pages for details.

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