How to solve it
- Draw a shape (bar or circle) and divide it into equal parts: as many as the denominator says.
- Shade as many parts as the numerator says.
- Check that the parts are the same size.
- Write the fraction next to the drawing.
5/6 =
= 5, = 6 − 5 = 1
Result: 5/6
Common mistake:Wrong: 3/8 = ■■■□□□□.Right: 3/8 = ■■■□□□□□.The denominator counts all the parts, shaded or not. For 3/8 there are 8 parts in total, not 7.
Full guide: Drawing fraction models
The guide to drawing fractions compares the models and explains when to use each one.
Worked example: 3/5 on a circle
You want to draw 3/5 on a circle and find how many degrees the shaded part covers.
- Divide the circle into 5 equal sectors. Each one measures 360° ÷ 5 = 72°.
- Shade 3 sectors. The numerator says how many are taken.
- Add up the degrees. 3 × 72° = 216°, which is 3/5 of 360°.
- The 2 unshaded sectors measure 144°.
Result. 3 of 5 sectors, 216° shaded.
Check. 216° + 144° = 360°, the whole circle, and 216 ÷ 360 simplifies to the fraction you started with.
One fraction in three views
With the fraction 3/4, the bar shows 3 of 4 segments and the circle shows 3 of 4 sectors. If you type 6/8, the set of 8 items marks 6, and 6/8 reduces to 3/4. The three drawings are worth the same because each starts from a whole divided into equal parts: 6 of 8 is 3/4 when you group the items in twos.
Bar: 3 of 4; circle: 270°; set: 6 of 8
| View | How it splits the whole | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Bar | Equal segments in a row | Comparing lengths and fractions greater than 1 |
| Circle | Equal sectors | Sharing a round whole, like a pizza |
| Area | Equal cells in a grid | Linking the fraction to a surface |
| Set | Separate items | Counting parts of a collection |
| Wall | Rows of 1 to 12 parts of the same whole | Seeing equivalents between 0 and 1 |
The wall only accepts values from 0 to 1, while the bar also draws fractions greater than 1. To find a fraction of a bigger group of objects, the guide to fractions of a set works it out with numbers.
Fractions greater than 1
An improper fraction is drawn as complete wholes plus one partial whole. 9/5 is nine fifths, and since 9 = 5 + 4, one whole is filled with five parts and the next one carries four, so 9/5 = 1 4/5. Squeezing nine fifths into a single whole would give a misleading drawing. Wikipedia calls a fraction improper when its numerator is not less than its denominator, and defines a mixed number as a nonzero integer plus a proper fraction.
The tool keeps the split you type. With 3/6 it draws six parts and shades three, even though the reduced value is 1/2. That way you can see that three of six equal parts cover the same amount as one of two. To generate more pairs like this, use equivalent fractions.
The wall for seeing equivalents
The wall stacks rows of the same whole with different splits, always between 0 and 1. The rows with 3, 6 and 9 parts show that 2/3 = 4/6 = 6/9, because the three shaded zones end at the same point.
2/3 = 4/6 = 6/9
A drawing explains why two fractions are equal, but it is not precise enough for measuring. To order fractions or place them as numbers, use the number line and compare fractions. If you compare drawings of different objects, first make sure the whole is the same, with the guide to comparing with the same whole.
Practice and check
For practice on paper with answers, the shading and drawing worksheets have exercises like these, and fraction practice checks your answers right away. If your drawing comes out different from the tool’s, the guide to common fraction mistakes lists the most frequent slips.
Source: English Wikipedia, article Fraction, sections on proper and improper fractions and on mixed numbers (accessed October 17, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
Can I draw a mixed number or a decimal?
Yes. A mixed number like 2 1/3 is drawn the same way as 7/3: two complete wholes and a third with 1 of 3 parts shaded. A decimal is first turned into a reduced fraction, so 0.125 is drawn in eighths. For a different split, type the fraction with the denominator you prefer.
How is a negative fraction drawn?
A shaded region has no sign, so the tool draws the magnitude: with −5/6 you see five of six parts shaded and the text says the quantity is negative. To place a negative value to the left of zero, use the number line.
Can I print the drawing?
Yes. After you calculate, a print option appears for the drawing and its description. If the fraction needs several wholes, like 23/6, check that your printer does not crop the shapes; the text still states the exact amount, 3 wholes and 5 of 6 parts.