5th grade · Math · Unit 12 of 14
Multiply & Divide Fractions
Fractions times and shared
What your child practices
Multiplying a fraction by a whole number or a fraction, dividing a unit fraction by a whole number (and the other way round), and seeing a fraction as sharing.
Maine Learning Results learning standard: 5.NF.B.3; 5.NF.B.4; 5.NF.B.5; 5.NF.B.7 · a fraction as division, multiplying fractions, multiplication as scaling, and dividing unit fractions and whole numbers
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- To multiply fractions, multiply the tops and multiply the bottoms.
- A fraction is a division: 3/4 means 3 ÷ 4.
- Dividing by a unit fraction asks how many of it fit.
Example: What is 2/3 × 3/5? Tops: 2 × 3 = 6. Bottoms: 3 × 5 = 15. 6/15 = 2/5. Answer: 2/5
Multiply & Divide Fractions in Maine
In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 12 of 14 in 5th grade Math, after Coordinate Grid and before Unlike Denominators.
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: Maine Department of Education
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
What is 1/6 ÷ 4?
1/6 ÷ 4 = ?
- 1/10
- 3/2
- 1/24
- 2/3
1/24
Hint: Split 1/6 into 4 equal parts. Each part is 1/24.
Question 2
A recipe uses 3/4 cup of oats. How many cups for 3 batches?
- 3/4 cups
- 2 1/4 cups
- 1 1/2 cups
- 1/4 cups
2 1/4 cups
Hint: 3 × 3/4 = 9/4.
Question 3
5 loaves of bread are shared equally by 4 friends. How much does each friend get?
- 5/9 each
- 4/5 each
- 1 1/4 each
- 1/4 each
1 1/4 each
Hint: Sharing is dividing: 5 ÷ 4 = 5/4.
Question 4
What is 3/4 × 3/5?
3/4 × 3/5 = ?
- 5/4
- 2/3
- 1
- 9/20
9/20
Hint: Multiply the tops. Multiply the bottoms. Simplify if you can.
Question 5
What is 5/6 × 12?
5/6 × 12 = ?
- 10
- 13
- 2
- 15
- 60
10
Hint: 12 ÷ 6 = 2. Then × 5.
Question 6
What is 4 ÷ 1/2?
- 6
- 2
- 8
- 4
8
Hint: How many 1/2s are in 4? There are 2 in each whole, so 4 × 2.