How Do You Know When to Divide or Multiply Fractions in a Word Problem?
Word problems + fractions = a lot of struggle for many students. Especially when you throw in new concepts like multiplying and dividing fractions. Those fraction word problems are always pretty tricky for my students. The showtime year that I taught multiplying and dividing fractions, I actually had to spend some time breaking down the concepts myself in order to best assistance my students. On this post, I will share an anchor chart and a gratuitous give-and-take problem sort that helps my students solve these types of fraction word problems and see the difference/connectedness between the two.
Annotation: This is based on 5th grade standards and focuses only on multiplying fractions less than 1 and dividing with unit fractions and whole numbers. Click here to catch some free printables to aid your students with solving discussion issues involving multiplying mixed numbers.
Teach Multiplying and Dividing Fractions with Models and a Context
Before even beginning with word issues, I always innovate multiplying and dividing fractions (separately) with a context/situation. And then we work through the situation and solve the problem/ answer the question using models. This actually helps the students conceptually understand the operations. When students are simply exposed to algorithms, they may not fully understand the operation. As a result, they volition struggle with choosing the correct operations when solving word issues.
Here are my go-to introductory word bug for when I first introduce multiplying and dividing fractions (again I innovate each one separately). I adopt to use fudge for all of my introductory give-and-take problems considering I dear fudge, my students love it, the contexts make sense and are relatable, and information technology is nigh an inside joke between the states by the middle of the twelvemonth. I also apply student names or teacher names in the problems whenever possible and friendly fractions for easy modeling and visualizing.
Multiplying Fractions Introductory Word Problem: While shopping at a bakery, Ms. Findley purchased 1/2 of a pound of chocolate fudge. Afterward dinner that dark, she ate 1/4 of the chocolate fudge that she bought. How much of a pound of fudge did Ms. Findley consume?
Dividing Fractions Introductory Word Problem: Jamal's mother made 1/3 of a pound of his favorite fudge, peanut butter caramel fudge. She divided the fudge into iv equal containers. How much fudge did she put in each container?
How I Use the Introductory Give-and-take Problems: I write the problem on an anchor nautical chart, gather my students at our mini-lesson area (effectually a large carpeting) and follow these steps:
- Read the word trouble once (myself or a educatee).
- Read information technology again, if needed (based on the level of my students)
- Have the students retell the trouble with partners in their own words.
- Have a few students share their retellings with the class.
- Focus on what the question is asking by writing the question in a sentence.
- Use models to demonstrate the situation in the problem (since these are new concepts for them, this part is heavily teacher driven, but typically I adopt student driven). The students practise with models as well. This can be paper folding models, visual representation drawings, or both — my favorite is both in the beginning.
- Interpret the visual into a labeled equation (read more near labeled equations here) and answer the question.
- Discuss the answer and determine if it makes sense.
- Practice similar/same situations just with different numbers.
Reminder : I teach both of these concepts separately for near a week each.
Fraction Discussion Issues: Do I Divide or Multiply?
Once my students have "mastered" multiplying and dividing fractions and have seen each in a variety of contexts (through the word problems I utilise), they are gear up to tackle both and encounter the connections and differences between the ii. To do this, I utilize this anchor chart to testify some of the situations and contexts that require multiplication and division of fractions. We discuss each i and how it relates back to multiplication and sectionalisation.
My students then use this nautical chart (and the printable version I provide – available for free in the next department) to support them as they solve word bug. They read the give-and-take problem and so bank check the nautical chart for a matching situation.
Since it is impossible to expose students to every type of situation and context, the blurb at the end of the chart is cardinal. The students really need to brand a habit of checking to run into if their answers make sense. This will help them if they choose the incorrect operation.
Gratis Multiplying and Dividing Fractions Word Problem Sort
In addition to the above anchor nautical chart, nosotros likewise do a give-and-take problem sort. The word issues were specifically written to match the contexts from the nautical chart so this is a bang-up extension of the lesson involving the ballast chart. The students read the word issues, check the nautical chart, so sort them accordingly. I do this activeness with partners or modest groups (pulling a group to work with me that may struggle based on previous assessments using go out slips), but this could also exist done as a math middle activity.
Click hither or on the epitome in a higher place to download the multiplying and dividing fractions discussion problem sort and a printable version of the anchor nautical chart.
My Go-To Resource for Teaching Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
The anchor chart and the sort are used later on I have introduced and we have practiced both operations in isolation. I do this past using resource from my Multiplying and Dividing Fractions resource.
This resource includes:
- Teaching Posters
- Practise Printables
- Constructed Response Tasks
- and more!
Click here to purchase the Multiplying and Dividing Fractions Resource from my TPT shop.
More Helpful Word Problem Posts, Freebies, and Resource
Didactics Word Problems without Cardinal Words (And What to Teach Instead)
Word Problem of the Twenty-four hours : FREE Starter Packs
8 Ways to Aid Students Be Successful with Give-and-take Issues
Prove the LOVE with Word Problems: Helping Students Respond Word Problems
Teaching Students How To Justify Answers in Math
Solving Multi-Role Word Problems
FREE Word Problem Graphic Organizers/Mats
5th Grade Word Problem of the Twenty-four hour period TpT Resource
More Fraction Resources, Freebies, and Weblog Posts:
Gratuitous Fraction Mats: I utilise these free downloadable fraction mats to support my students further as they add together and decrease fractions with different denominators.
Free Fraction Pacing Guide: This blog mail shares an "I Can" checklist for students and shares how I pace my 5th grade fraction skills.
Free Fraction Fun with Snacks Printables: If you tin can utilise food in your instruction, your students volition love reviewing fraction operations (multiplication and partitioning) using Twizzlers, skittles, and brownies.
four Means to Teach Students to Make Common Denominators: Read about the 4 means I teach my students to notice common denominators and grab a free printable.
Gratis Fraction Activities: Grab some super easy to prep fraction activities on this post.
Source: https://jenniferfindley.com/fraction-word-problems-multiplying-and-dividing-fractions/
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