6th grade · Math · Unit 13 of 17
Dividing Fractions
How many fit?
What your child practices
Dividing a fraction by a fraction by multiplying by the reciprocal, and solving “how many servings” and “how many pieces” problems.
Alaska content standards learning standard: 6.NS.1 · interpreting and computing quotients of fractions and solving problems with fraction division
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal (flip it).
- Keep the first fraction, change ÷ to ×, flip the second.
- Simplify the answer.
Example: What is 3/4 ÷ 1/8? 3/4 × 8/1 = 24/4. 24/4 = 6. Answer: 6
Dividing Fractions in Alaska
In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 13 of 17 in 6th grade Math, after Powers and Common Factors and before Center & Spread.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
How many 1/2-cup servings are in 2 cups of trail mix?
- 3
- 4
- 2
- 7
- 5
4
Hint: 2 ÷ 1/2 = 2 × 2/1.
Question 2
Which multiplication has the same answer as 1/7 ÷ 1/9?
- 1/7 × 1/9
- 7/1 × 9/1
- 7/1 × 1/9
- 1/7 × 9/1
1/7 × 9/1
Hint: Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal (flip the second fraction).
Question 3
A trail is 3/4 mile long. Signs are placed every 1/4 mile. How many sections does that make?
- 6
- 2
- 3
- 4
3
Hint: 3/4 ÷ 1/4 = 3/4 × 4/1.
Question 4
What is 2/3 ÷ 1/3?
2/3 ÷ (1/3) = ?
- 7/3
- 2/9
- 2
- 1/2
2
Hint: Multiply by the reciprocal: 2/3 × 3/1.
Question 5
How many 2/3-cup servings are in 2 cups of trail mix?
- 6
- 5
- 2
- 4
- 3
3
Hint: 2 ÷ 2/3 = 2 × 3/2.
Question 6
A trail is 5/6 mile long. Signs are placed every 1/6 mile. How many sections does that make?
- 4
- 10
- 6
- 5
5
Hint: 5/6 ÷ 1/6 = 5/6 × 6/1.