Definition
Region model
A region model shows a fraction by splitting one area into equal-area parts and marking some parts.
What it means
Picture one flat whole, such as a rectangle. Split its area into fair shares. The pieces may have different shapes, but each must cover the same amount of space. Count every share for the denominator and the marked shares for the numerator.
Remember it
Same area means fair shares—even when the shapes do not match.
Example
A rectangle is split into 8 equal-area sections. Three sections are shaded, so the model represents 3/8.
Watch for
Parts that look similar but cover different amounts of area are not equal fractional parts.
Common mix-up
In a region model, equal parts means equal area, not necessarily identical shape.
Exact meaning
A region model represents a fraction with one whole region divided into parts of equal area. The selected parts show the numerator, and the total number of equal-area parts shows the denominator.