Definition
Equal parts
Equal parts are shares of one whole with the same size or amount.
What it means
Equal parts must give each share the same amount. On a shape, two pieces may look different but still be equal parts if their areas are equal. On a number line, the spaces must have equal length.
Remember it
Equal parts mean equal amount, not always matching shape.
Example
A 15-centimetre ribbon is cut at 5 cm and 10 cm. The three pieces are each 5 cm long, so they are equal parts and each is one third of the ribbon.
Watch for
Pieces that only look similar are not enough; the relevant amount must be equal.
Common mix-up
Equal parts need not be congruent shapes when equal area is what matters.
Exact meaning
Equal parts are parts of the same whole that are equal in the measure that matters: area for regions, length for line segments, or number or amount for shared collections.