CBSE Class 5 Mathematics Chapter 4: Parts and Wholes NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 5 PDF

CBSE Class 5 Mathematics Chapter 4, 'Parts and Wholes,' lays the groundwork for understanding fractions. These NCERT Solutions guide students through representing parts of a whole using relatable examples like flags and circles. Learners will discover how to identify, compare, and express fractions such as one-third, one-fourth, and one-eighth. The chapter emphasizes visualizing fractions and applying them to everyday situations, like coloring sections of a flag or dividing shapes. The solutions aim to solidify a strong understanding of fractional concepts, making complex ideas accessible through clear explanations and visual aids, which is crucial for exam success.

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 5
SubjectMathematics
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 4

Chapter summary

Chapter 4, 'Parts and Wholes,' focuses on introducing basic fraction concepts to Class 5 students. The NCERT Solutions cover identifying fractional parts of objects like flags and circles, representing these parts numerically (e.g., 1/3, 1/8), and comparing simple fractions. It emphasizes visual understanding and practical application of fractions in everyday contexts, preparing students for more advanced topics.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the concept of a fraction as a part of a whole.
  • Identify and represent simple fractions (e.g., 1/3, 1/4, 1/8).
  • Visually divide shapes into equal fractional parts.
  • Compare simple fractions based on visual representations.
  • Apply fraction concepts to real-world examples like flags.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Introduction to Fractions
  • Parts of a Whole
  • Representing Fractions
  • Fractions of a Flag
  • Dividing a Circle
  • Visualizing Fractions
  • Comparing Simple Fractions

Important topics

  • Understanding fractions as parts of a whole
  • Representing fractions numerically (e.g., 1/3, 1/8)
  • Visual division of shapes into equal parts
  • Applying fractions to real-world scenarios

PDF preview

Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.

Loading document …
Page of
Loading page …

Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Draw a rectangle of length 8 cm and width 6 cm. Divide it into three equal parts and complete the flag.

The top one – third of our flag is saffron (or orange). What is the colour of the middle one – third of the flag? Where will you draw the Ashoka chakra?

How much of the flag will you colour green?

Solution:

To complete the flag, we first draw a rectangle with a length of 8 cm and a width of 6 cm. This rectangle represents the entire flag. We then divide this rectangle into three equal horizontal parts. Each of these parts represents one-third (1/3) of the flag.

Given that the top one-third of the flag is saffron (or orange), the colour of the middle one-third of the flag is white. The Ashoka chakra, which is a wheel, is typically drawn at the centre of the flag, which falls within the middle white band.

Since the flag is divided into three equal parts, and one part is saffron and the middle part is white, the remaining bottom part would be green. Therefore, one-third (1/3) of the flag will be coloured green.

Question 2

Look at this flag. How much of it is black? The green part of the flag can be written as _____ Is red less than one - third of the flag? Why?

(Image of a flag is implied here)

Solution:

The flag is divided into 3 equal parts. By observing the flag, we can see that only one of these three equal parts is black. Therefore, the black portion represents 1/3 of the flag.

Similarly, observing the flag, we see that one part is green. This green part can be written as 1/3 of the flag.

The red portion of the flag is less than 1/3 of the flag. This is because the red area also contains a white emblem. The emblem takes up some space within the red section, meaning the red colour itself does not cover the entire one-third portion.

Question 3

This is the flag of Myanmar, our neighbour. Is blue more than one-fourth of the flag or less? Guess how much of the flag is red. Is it more than 1/3? Is it more than three-fourths?

(Image of Myanmar's flag is implied here)

Solution:

Observing the flag of Myanmar, the blue colour appears in a relatively small section. It is less than one-fourth (1/4) of the entire flag.

The red colour covers a significant portion of the flag. It appears to be more than one-third (1/3) of the flag. Furthermore, the red portion also seems to be more than three-fourths (3/4) of the flag, as it occupies the largest area.

Question 1

Draw a circle of radius 3 cm and cut it out. Divide the circle into 8 equal parts. Now each part is 1/8 of the circle. Colour 2/8 red, 1/8 orange, 1/8 yellow etc. as shown here. Push a matchstick through the centre of the circle. Your magic top is ready. Spin it fast! What do you see? Can you see all the colours? Write what you see in your notebook.

(Instructions for creating a spinning top with a coloured circle are implied)

Solution:

First, draw a circle with a radius of 3 cm and carefully cut it out. Next, divide the circle into 8 equal sectors. Each of these sectors represents 1/8 of the whole circle.

Now, colour the sectors as instructed: 2/8 red, 1/8 orange, and 1/8 yellow. You can colour the remaining 4/8 (1/2) of the circle with other colours or leave them as they are, ensuring the divisions are clear.

To make the magic top, push a matchstick through the exact centre of the circle. When you spin this top fast, the colours will blend together due to the rapid motion. You will likely see a mixture of the colours, and depending on the speed and lighting, it might appear as a single dominant colour or a blur of all the colours used. It is fascinating to observe how the colours merge when the circle spins quickly. You can note down your observations about which colours seem to blend most or if a new colour appears to be formed.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the numerator and denominator.
  • Incorrectly dividing a whole into equal parts.
  • Difficulty in comparing fractions visually.
  • Misinterpreting 'parts of a whole' in word problems.

Revision tips

  • Draw shapes and divide them into equal parts to visualize fractions.
  • Use real-life examples like cutting a pizza or cake to understand fractions.
  • Practice identifying the fractional part that is coloured or shaded.
  • Review the flag examples to understand how fractions represent different sections.

Practice MCQs

Q1. In a flag divided into 3 equal parts, if one part is saffron, what fraction of the flag is saffron?

Q2. If a circle is divided into 8 equal parts and 3 parts are coloured red, what fraction of the circle is red?

Q3. In the Indian flag, the saffron colour represents which fraction of the flag?

Q4. If a flag has a white emblem in the red portion, is the red part more or less than one-third?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main concept covered in CBSE Class 5 Maths Chapter 4?

Chapter 4, 'Parts and Wholes,' introduces students to the basic concept of fractions, explaining how to represent parts of a whole using numerical fractions and visual aids.

How do the NCERT Solutions for Chapter 4 help students?

These solutions provide clear, step-by-step explanations for each question, helping students understand how to identify, represent, and compare simple fractions with practical examples.

What kind of examples are used in this chapter?

The chapter uses examples like colouring parts of a national flag and dividing a circle into equal parts to illustrate fractional concepts.

Are fractions represented visually or numerically in this chapter?

Both. Students learn to visualize fractions by dividing shapes and also represent them numerically, such as 1/3 or 1/8.

How can I use these solutions for exam revision?

You can use these solutions to review the basic principles of fractions, practice identifying fractional parts, and ensure you understand how to solve problems involving dividing wholes into equal parts.

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.