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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.

Maine Learning Results learning standard: 6.NS.A.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.

  1. To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal (flip it).
  2. Keep the first fraction, change ÷ to ×, flip the second.
  3. Simplify the answer.

Example: What is 3/4 ÷ 1/8? 3/4 × 8/1 = 24/4. 24/4 = 6. Answer: 6

Dividing Fractions in Maine

In the Maine Learning Results, 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: 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.

  1. Question 1

    Which multiplication has the same answer as 1/3 ÷ 1/3?

    • 3/1 × 1/3
    • 1/3 × 3/1
    • 1/3 × 1/3
    • 3/1 × 3/1

  2. Question 2

    What is 6/7 ÷ 2/5?

    6/7 ÷ (2/5) = ?

    • 12/35
    • 15/7
    • 7/15
    • 31/14

  3. Question 3

    How many 2/3-cup servings are in 2 cups of trail mix?

    • 6
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 5

  4. Question 4

    A trail is 1/2 mile long. Signs are placed every 1/6 mile. How many sections does that make?

    • 6
    • 3
    • 4
    • 2

  5. Question 5

    How many 1/2-cup servings are in 2 cups of trail mix?

    • 1
    • 5
    • 4
    • 2
    • 6

  6. Question 6

    What is 1/2 ÷ 3/4?

    1/2 ÷ (3/4) = ?

    • 3/2
    • 2/3
    • 3/8
    • 5/6

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