1/2 = 2/4
Today we'll see how two fractions can name the very same amount. Let's compare one half and two fourths.
Here's a bar split into two equal pieces. We shade one piece — that's one half.
We write it as one over two. The bottom tells us there are two equal pieces, the top tells us one is shaded.
Now watch — we split the SAME bar into four equal pieces instead of two.
Two of those four pieces are shaded. That's two fourths.
We write it as two over four. Four equal pieces in all, two of them shaded.
Look — the shaded part is exactly the same size. Same amount of bar, just cut differently.
We can also show this on a number line from zero to one.
One half lands right in the middle.
Two fourths lands… right in the same spot! They're at the exact same point.
So one half equals two fourths. They're called equivalent fractions.
Two fractions are equivalent when they name the same amount. One half and two fourths are equal!