Numbers
Class 5 · Mathematics
3 ideas in Class 5 Mathematics, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Dividing a Quantity in a Given Ratio
Part of: Ratios
Dividing in a ratio means splitting a total so the shares match the ratio. To share 20 sweets between two children in the ratio 1 : 3, first count the parts (1 + 3 = 4), find how much one part is (20 ÷ 4 = 5), then give 5 sweets to one child and 15 to the other.
Why it matters. Sharing in real life is often unequal on purpose, like ingredients, savings or pocket money. Doing it step by step builds multiplication, division and reasoning together.
Try it in two minutes
- Add the ratio parts to find the total number of parts: 1 + 3 = 4.
- Divide the total by the number of parts to find one part: 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
- Multiply one part by each ratio number: 1 × 5 = 5 and 3 × 5 = 15.
- Check: 5 + 15 = 20, the original total.
Try at home. Mix a drink with 2 parts juice to 3 parts water in a measuring jug, and work out how much of each makes 500 mL.
Percentage of a Quantity
Part of: Percentages
Per cent means "out of 100". To find a percentage of an amount, find that many hundredths of it. For example, 50% of 80 is 40 (half of it), and 10% of 200 is 20 (one tenth of it).
Why it matters. Percentages appear in discounts, marks and sports. Easy benchmarks like 50%, 25% and 10% let children estimate quickly, for example in a shop.
Try it in two minutes
- Remember that 50% is half, 25% is a quarter, and 10% is one tenth.
- To find 10% of an amount, divide by 10: 10% of 300 is 30.
- Build other percentages from these: 20% is two tens, so 20% of 300 is 60.
- Check it makes sense: 25% of 80 should be a quarter of 80, which is 20.
Try at home. At a shop, find 10% of a price like ₹250 together (₹25), then work out the price after a 10% discount (₹225).
Comparing Percentages
Part of: Percentages
Comparing percentages means deciding which share is larger. Percentages are all "out of 100", so for the same whole the bigger percentage is the bigger share: 65% is more than 56%. For different wholes the percentage alone is not enough: 50% of 10 is smaller than 25% of 100.
Why it matters. Marks, discounts and scores are compared using percentages. Children learn that a percentage is a share, not an amount, so the size of the whole matters.
Try it in two minutes
- Same whole? The bigger percentage is the bigger share: 65% beats 56%.
- Different wholes? Find the real amounts first: 50% of 10 is 5, but 25% of 100 is 25.
- Use benchmarks: 49% is a little less than half, and 51% is a little more.
Try at home. Compare two test scores out of different totals, like 18 out of 20 and 40 out of 50, by turning each into a percentage (90% and 80%).
What your child will practise
- Kingdom Builder (Kingdom Builder)