1/6 means 1 out of 6 equal parts. The bottom number (6) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (1) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.1666… (the 6 repeats forever), and as a percent it's about 16.7%.
1/6 in pictures
1/6 at a glance
| In words | one sixth |
| As a decimal | 0.1666… (the 6 repeats forever) |
| As a percent | about 16.7% |
| Simplest form | 1/6 is already in simplest form |
| Equal fractions | 2/12, 3/18, 4/24, 5/30 |
| Compared to one half | smaller than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 5/6 |
Is 1/6 in simplest form?
No number bigger than 1 divides both 1 and 6, so 1/6 can't be simplified. It's as simple as it gets.
Fractions equal to 1/6
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 1 × 2 = 2 and 6 × 2 = 12, so 1/6 = 2/12. Times 3 gives 3/18. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 1/6: 2/12, 3/18, 4/24, 5/30, 6/36. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 1/6 bigger than one half?
1/6 is smaller than 1/2. One half of 6 parts is 3, and 1/6 has 1, which is fewer. Next to its neighbors: 1/6 < 2/6.
1/6 in real life
Share the 12 into 6 equal groups: 12 ÷ 6 = 2 in each group. Take 1 group: 2 × 1 = 2.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 6 = 10, and 10 × 1 = 10 minutes.
Cut into thirds first, then halve each third. Or cut in half and split each half into three.
Common mix-ups with 1/6
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 1/6 is less than one whole; 6/1 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 1 filled and 5 empty is not 1/5. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 6 parts, filled or not.
Kids often think 1/6 beats 1/5 because 6 is the bigger number. It's the other way round: more people sharing one pie means a smaller slice each.
Play with 1/6
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 1/6 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 1/6
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
1/6 FAQ
What is 1/6 as a decimal?
1/6 = 0.1666… Divide the top by the bottom: 1 ÷ 6. The digit 6 repeats forever, so it never ends.
What is 1/6 as a percent?
1/6 is about 16.7%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 1 ÷ 6 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 1/6?
2/12, 3/18, 4/24, 5/30, 6/36 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 1/6 out loud?
Say "one sixth".
Is the fraction game really free?
Yes. The whole game plays free in your browser, with no signup, no ads and no time limit. A Fraction Bakery app for iPhone is coming later, but the web game stays free.
Take the bakery with you, soon
A Fraction Bakery app for iPhone is on the way. The plan: offline play for the car, a parent report of which fractions have stuck, and the full bakery shelf of prizes. Until then, the whole game is free right here.
Coming soon on theApp Store