Word Problems

Fraction by Whole Number

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 4
Activity Page ▶ pages 5
Practice Page ▶ page 6
Grade Level: 3 – 4 Homework Page ▶ page 8
Quiz ▶ page 10
 Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: 3 – 4
1. Begin by explaining to students that math is used to solve Objectives:
problems, and those problems are often word problems.
The students will be able to solve word prob-
2. While reading the content pages, reinforce vocabulary and lems involving multiplication of a fraction by a
whole number.
give students additional examples of word problems in
order to help them practice applying the new knowledge. Common Core State Standards:
Use the additional resources to enhance understanding.
CCSS.Math.Content.3.NF.A.2
3. Introduce the notes on word problems - fractions by
CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.B.4.B
whole number. Have students practice problems using
denominators under 12. Use the additional resources to Class Sessions (45 minutes):
enhance understanding.
1 class
4. Have students practice problems.
Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
5. Follow Activity page with students. Have students work with
a partner to fill in the blanks and then solve the problems. Word Problems - Fractions by Whole Number
content pages (2), Activity pages (1), Practice
6. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’ page, Homework page, Quiz
responses as a class. Student Supplies:
7. Distribute the Homework page. Have students work a few None
problems at the beginning of the next class to reinforce
solving word problems. Prepare Ahead of Time:

8. In closing, ask students to think of different occupations Copy materials

that would use problems like the ones in class.
9. Allow for responses and discussion.
Options for Lesson:
Have students write their own word problems
and then switch with a partner to solve, have
students draw a model for each situation to
solve, have students make a game board to go
with the problems they create as a class, have
students research different occupations and cre-
ate a word problem based on the occupations.

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 Teacher Notes
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Additional Resources:
Content:

http://www.mathplayground.com/

https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/107/pages/4-dot-nf-dot-4-assessment-tasks

https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-4/multiply-fractions-by-whole-numbers

https://www.mathgames.com/skill/4.67-multiply-fractions-by-whole-numbers

Worksheets:

http://www.free-test-online.com/ccss/grade4/4NF4.html

http://www.commoncoresheets.com/SortedByGrade.php?Sorted=4nf4b

http://www.mathworksheetsland.com/4/

http://www.homeschoolmath.net/worksheets/fraction_multiplication.php

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0BS3mI4PPc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhUCOSS4n3M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJUvxRy-flQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KYGCb9fUwM

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Word Problems – Fractions by Whole Number
Solving word problems are the most important part of math, because it is the application of the skills that
will help us in the real world. It is important to know how to multiply a fraction by a whole number especially
when you need to apply it to your job or a problem that you need to solve.
There is always more than one way to solve a problem! We are going to explore two ways to solve multiplying
a fraction by a whole number. Let’s look at an example.
The school nurse needs to count all the students in each class who wear glasses. In Mr. Roger’s class,
you are told that of the 20 students wear glasses. How many students in Mr. Roger’s class wear glasses?

AREA MODEL
The first method we can use is an area model. We can draw a box to represent each student in the class.
There are 20 students, so we will need 20 boxes.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
One fourth of those 20 parts represents students that wear glasses. If we color of the area model starting
at 1, we can determine the number of students.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
In this case, we can see that 5 students wear glasses.

MULTIPLY FRACTION
The second method is to multiply the fraction and the whole number using the standard method. In this
method, we convert 10 to a fraction and then multiply the numerators, then multiply the denominators.
Don’t forget to simplify your answer if needed.
Using this method, we can see that 5 students wear glasses, which is the same as the previous answer.
Let’s look at another example.
The local bakery wants to bake 7 batches of their chocolate chip cookies to donate. To make the cookies,
the recipe calls for 1⁄2 a cup of sugar. How much sugar is needed for all of the batches?

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DRAW A MODEL
The first method we can use is a model. We can draw a box to represent each batch of cookies. There are
7 batches, so we will need 7 boxes.

20 × 1⁄2 − 20⁄1 × 1⁄4 − 20⁄4 − 5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Each part needs one half of a cup of sugar. If we add 1⁄2 seven times, we can determine the amount of sugar
needed.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2

1⁄2 + 1⁄2 + 1⁄2 + 1⁄2 + 1⁄2 + 1⁄2 + 1⁄2 = 7/2 = 3 1/2

In this case, we can see that 7 batches of cookies will need 31⁄2 cups of sugar.

MULTIPLY FRACTION
The second method is to multiply the fraction and the whole number using the standard method. In this
method, we convert 7 to a fraction and then multiply the numerators, then multiply the denominators.

7 × 1/2 = 7/1 × 1/2 = 7/2 = 31/2

Don’t forget to simplify your answer if needed.

Using this method, we can see that the baker will need 31/2 cups of sugar, which is the same as the previous
answer.
As you can see, no matter which method you choose, you will get the correct answer. Sometimes it will be
easier to draw a model and sometimes it will be easier to solve using the standard method – it is up to you!

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
Create your own word problem by filling in the blanks!

Katie made ______________ for the cook-off competition. She made _______ ______________ for
Food Number Measurement
the competition. If she had only 2/5 left in the pot, how much did she have left over?

______________’s hair was _______ inches long. The ____________________ cut _______ of it off.
Person in room Number Occupation Fraction
How many inches were cut off?

______________ collected ________ times as many ______________ as her friend. Her friend
Person in room Number Plural noun
collected only ________ . How much did ______________ collect?
Fraction Same person

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 Practice Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
Solve the word problems and show your work.
WORD PROBLEM METHOD

Amanda had 5 pounds of fudge. She let her friend

Kimmie eat 1/3 of the fudge. How many pounds of
fudge did Kammie eat?

Each day a teacher used 4/7 of a box of paper.

How many boxes would the teacher have used
after 3 days?

A bucket could hold 5/6 of a gallon of water. If Jim-

my filled up eight buckets, how much water would
he have?

Sophia has a dozen flowers. She needs 2/3 of a

cup of water for 1 flower. How many cups of water
would she need?

On Wednesday, it snowed 10 inches. The next day

it snowed 3/4 that amount. How much did it snow
on Thursday?

It takes 3/10 of a box of nails to build a bird house.

The bird watching club wants to build 5 bird hous-
es. How many boxes of nails would they need?

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 Practice Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
Solve the word problems and show your work.
WORD PROBLEM METHOD
Amanda had 5 pounds of fudge. She let her friend
Kimmie eat 1/3 of the fudge. How many pounds of
fudge did Kammie eat?

Each day a teacher used 4/7 of a box of paper.

How many boxes would the teacher have used
after 3 days?
A bucket could hold 5/6 of a gallon of water. If Jim-
my filled up eight buckets, how much water would
he have?

Sophia has a dozen flowers. She needs 2/3 of a

cup of water for 1 flower. How many cups of water
would she need?

On Wednesday, it snowed 10 inches. The next day

it snowed 3/4 that amount. How much did it snow
on Thursday?

It takes 3/10 of a box of nails to build a bird house.

The bird watching club wants to build 5 bird hous-
es. How many boxes of nails would they need?

7
 Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
Solve the word problems and show your work.
WORD PROBLEM METHOD

When Sven’s iPhone is fully charged it lasts for 11

hours. If he only charged it 3/5 full, how long would
it last?

A farmer gives each of his pigs 3/8 of a barrel of

corn each month. If he has 6 pigs, how many bar-
rels does he use a month?

Ivey ran on a path that was 7/8 of a mile. She ran

the path 3 times. What is the total distance Ivey
ran?

Lauren was packing up her old clothes into a box. A

box can hold 5 pounds. She only filled up the box
until it was 8/10 full. How much weight was in the
box?
On Sunday it rained 7 inches. The next day it
rained 2/3 that amount. How much did it rain on the
second day?

Tyrone ran 12 miles on his first day of cross coun-

try training. The next day he ran 4/6 that distance.
How far did he run the second day?

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 Homework Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
Solve the word problems and show your work.
WORD PROBLEM METHOD
When Sven’s iPhone is fully charged it lasts for 11
hours. If he only charged it 3/5 full, how long would
it last?

A farmer gives each of his pigs 3/8 of a barrel of

corn each month. If he has 6 pigs, how many bar-
rels does he use a month?

Ivey ran on a path that was 7/8 of a mile. She ran

the path 3 times. What is the total distance Ivey
ran?
Lauren was packing up her old clothes into a box. A
box can hold 5 pounds. She only filled up the box
until it was 8/10 full. How much weight was in the
box?
On Sunday it rained 7 inches. The next day it
rained 2/3 that amount. How much did it rain on the
second day?

Tyrone ran 12 miles on his first day of cross coun-

try training. The next day he ran 4/6 that distance.
How far did he run the second day?

9
 Quiz Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
A recipe for spaghetti needs cups of sauce. I made the recipe 3 times for a potluck. Check all the equations
that you could use to solve the problem.

10
 Quiz Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions
A recipe for spaghetti needs cups of sauce. I made the recipe 3 times for a potluck. Check all the equations
that you could use to solve the problem.

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