Fraction Fence Line

The new fence along the river paddock was one kilometre long, and the posts had not yet been placed.

"We need posts at all the right spots," said Suzy, unrolling a long tape measure. "The plan says to put them at fractions of the fence line."

Little Thunder looked at the plan and scratched his curly mop. "What does one half mean on a fence?"

"Halfway along," said Spike. "Five hundred metres." He trotted to the middle and pushed in the first post.

"Now one quarter," said Suzy.

Little Thunder thought hard. "Half of a half. So halfway between the start and the middle!" He hammered in a post at two hundred and fifty metres.

Next on the list was nought point seven five. Little Thunder frowned. "That's a decimal, not a fraction."

"It's the same as three quarters," said Spike. "Seven hundred and fifty metres."

Then Suzy read something tricky. "Two quarters."

Little Thunder walked along the fence and stopped. "There's already a post here! Two quarters is the same as one half."

"Equivalent fractions," said Suzy proudly. "Different names, same spot."

The last one was one and a half. Little Thunder looked down the fence and then back at the plan. "But the fence is only one whole kilometre. One and a half would be past the end!"

"Exactly," laughed Spike. "That post goes on the next fence, in the dam paddock."

By sunset every post was in place. Brasilia and Ottawa wandered along the new line, checking each one.

"Straight and in the right spots," said Brasilia. "Even the fractions are happy."