Halves – Definition with Examples

What is Halves?

Splitting a whole thing into two equal parts gives a half.

halves

Halves of Various Shapes

In the given images, the colored portions in each shape represent halves. 

halves of various shapes

Representing half using fractions

representing half using fractions

fraction is a part of one whole thing. When a slice of cake is taken out, it becomes a fraction, i.e. a piece of the entire cake.                            

In fractions, half is written as 12 of the whole. 

representing half using fractions 1
representing half using fractions 2

Find half of a block comprising of six parts.

find half
find half 1

Take out 3 parts out of 6, and it equals one half. 

Representing half on a number line 

We can show fractions on a number line.  The distance from 0-1 on a number line is always one whole. Dividing this distance into two equal parts will give two halves. 

representing half on a number line


Properties of Halves

  • Two equal parts of one whole thing.  
properties of halves
  • In decimal numbers, half is denoted by 0.5.
  • We can find half of a number multiplying it by ½.  For example, in the figure, half of the group of 6 chips is obtained by 6 × 1=3
properties of halves 1
  • By dividing the number by 2 we can get half of any number.
  • Adding two halves makes one.
properties of halves 2