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6th grade · Math · Unit 3 of 19

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.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: 6.3(A); 6.3(E) · dividing fractions by multiplying by the reciprocal

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 Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 3 of 19 in 6th grade Math, after Decimal × and ÷ and before Mixed Numbers & Ratios.

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: Texas Education Agency (TEA)

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

    A trail is 5/6 mile long. Signs are placed every 1/6 mile. How many sections does that make?

    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 10

  2. Question 2

    What is 3/4 ÷ 2/5?

    3/4 ÷ (2/5) = ?

    • 8/15
    • 3/10
    • 2
    • 15/8

  3. Question 3

    How many 3/4-cup servings are in 6 cups of trail mix?

    • 8
    • 5
    • 18
    • 9
    • 10

  4. Question 4

    Which multiplication has the same answer as 5/7 ÷ 8/9?

    • 5/7 × 8/9
    • 7/5 × 9/8
    • 5/7 × 9/8
    • 7/5 × 8/9

  5. Question 5

    A trail is 1/2 mile long. Signs are placed every 1/8 mile. How many sections does that make?

    • 4
    • 5
    • 8
    • 3

  6. Question 6

    What is 4/5 ÷ 1/3?

    4/5 ÷ (1/3) = ?

    • 13/5
    • 12/5
    • 4/15
    • 5/12

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