Our Multiplying and Dividing Fractions unit will begin January 19 and last through mid-February. If they understood ("survived"!) the last unit of the Fraction Number Sense, Addition, and Subtraction, then this won't be very difficult in comparison. It just combines some of those skills, which can be confusing. Below are a few resources to help students (and parents) at home.
Note that while Adding & Subtracting, students must find a common denominator. However, with Multiplying and Dividing, they DO NOT. Another difference is that mixed numbers can stay mixed numbers while Adding & Subtracting, but mixed numbers MUST be converted to improper fractions FIRST when Multiplying & Dividing.
Note that while Adding & Subtracting, students must find a common denominator. However, with Multiplying and Dividing, they DO NOT. Another difference is that mixed numbers can stay mixed numbers while Adding & Subtracting, but mixed numbers MUST be converted to improper fractions FIRST when Multiplying & Dividing.
MULTIPLYING FRACTIONS
Students must be able to multiply:
- two fractions
- a fraction and a whole number
- mixed numbers
Resources:
Examples: Multiply two fractions and multiply fractions and whole numbers
Examples: Multiply mixed numbers (*ignore the section about negative numbers)
Simplifying: Strategy of Simplifying BEFORE Multiplying
Guided Practice: Practice Multiplying Fractions
Guided Practice: Using visual models (rectangular arrays) to multiply fractions
Video Tutorial: Multiplying fractions using a visual representation (Learnzillion)
Guided Practice: Multiplying whole numbers and fractions
Guided Practice: Multiply fractions using arrays
Soccer Game
Snow Sprint Game
Millionaire Game
SatisFraction (GregTangMath.com)
- two fractions
- a fraction and a whole number
- mixed numbers
Resources:
Examples: Multiply two fractions and multiply fractions and whole numbers
Examples: Multiply mixed numbers (*ignore the section about negative numbers)
Simplifying: Strategy of Simplifying BEFORE Multiplying
Guided Practice: Practice Multiplying Fractions
Guided Practice: Using visual models (rectangular arrays) to multiply fractions
Video Tutorial: Multiplying fractions using a visual representation (Learnzillion)
Guided Practice: Multiplying whole numbers and fractions
Guided Practice: Multiply fractions using arrays
Soccer Game
Snow Sprint Game
Millionaire Game
SatisFraction (GregTangMath.com)
Click on an image below for a larger view:
When multiplying with mixed numbers, the mixed numbers must be converted to improper fractions before multiplying. Otherwise, the steps remain the same.
Students are learning the "cross-simplifying" strategy. Here is a video to explain cross-simplifying:
DIVIDING FRACTIONS:
Students must be able to:
- divide a unit fraction* by a whole number
- divide a whole number by a unit fraction*
(*"unit fraction" means 1 over a number, such as 1/5, 1/8, etc.)
Resources:
LearnZillion - divide unit fractions by whole numbers using models
LearnZillion - divide fractions by fractions using models
Helping With Math
Flocabulary - YouTube 'rap' video
- divide a unit fraction* by a whole number
- divide a whole number by a unit fraction*
(*"unit fraction" means 1 over a number, such as 1/5, 1/8, etc.)
Resources:
LearnZillion - divide unit fractions by whole numbers using models
LearnZillion - divide fractions by fractions using models
Helping With Math
Flocabulary - YouTube 'rap' video