Fraction Word Problems

Look at the picture and read the question. What operation would solve this problem?

• Addition

• Subtraction

• Multiplication

• Division

Answer explanation

The key word here is "of." If 1/3 of the students are in chorus, find 1/3 of 24.

Look at the picture and read the question. Which number shows the correct answer?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Answer explanation

$\frac{24}{1}\times\frac{1}{3}=\frac{24}{3}$ To multiply, put the 24 over 1 then multiply straight across. The final simplified answer would be 8 students because $\frac{24}{3}=24\div3$ and that equals 8!

What is the key word telling us to add, subtract, multiply, or divide in this one?

• "sold," subtract

• "of," multiply

• "of," divide

• "received," add

Answer explanation

In the problem, they use 2/3 "of them" meaning 2/3 of 366 jump ropes. Of usually means to multiply. It means divide if you don't know the total (ex. If 1/4 of the pizza was eaten and there are 6 slices left, how many slices were there to start with?)

 $\frac{366}{1}\times\frac{2}{3}=?$  Which answer is correct?

• 36623 jump ropes

• 122 jump ropes

• 244 jump ropes

• 732 jump ropes

Answer explanation

To solve  $\frac{366}{1}\times\frac{2}{3}\ =\frac{366\times2}{3\times1}=\frac{732}{3}$  multiply straight across to get the 732/3, then divide to get your final answer.

What does "pepperoni OR mushrooms" mean in this problem?

• Both

• Only one

Answer explanation

$\frac{6}{8}$

I think of it like this. You can get pepperoni OR you can get mushrooms. Both are OK, so we include both in our numerator, which represents pizza toppings that are acceptable to us. That gives us

What is the best answer? Can you simplify our  $\frac{6}{8}$  ?

• Both

• Only one

Answer explanation

 $\frac{6\div2}{8\div2}=\frac{3}{4}$ 

What is the key word in this problem?

• "of," multiply

• "eat," subtract

• "all together," add

Answer explanation

We want to know Bonnie's slices + Noel's slices to find out how much they ate in all.

Ok, add them. Don't forget to get a common denominator!

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Answer explanation

We want to know Bonnie's slices + Noel's slices to find out how much they ate in all.

How would you solve this problem?

• add

• subtract

• multiply

• divide

Answer explanation

We should divide since we want to know how many times 1/4 goes into 8. The key word is "each" meaning that each bow uses the same amount of ribbon so the number of bows times 1/4 equals the total amount of ribbon. We don't know the number of bows so we divide the total amount to see how many 1/4 lengths will fit inside the 8 ft.

• 5/24

• 1

• 0

• 1/4