Week 3 of 8
Week 3
5th Grade → 6th Grade · Fractions divide unit and Reading comprehension
Math
Dividing With Unit Fractions
Dividing a unit fraction (one over a number) by a whole number, and a whole number by a unit fraction. Fifth grade.
The mistake to watch for. Expecting a smaller answer when dividing a whole number by a fraction. 4 ÷ 1/3 asks how many thirds fit in 4, and that is 12.
How to help. Ask how many pieces fit: how many thirds in one whole? Three. So in 4 wholes there are 12.
A worked example
1/3 ÷ 4: cut one third into 4 equal pieces. Each piece is 1/12, so 1/3 ÷ 4 = 1/12. And 4 ÷ 1/3 asks how many thirds fit in 4: 3 in each whole, so 4 × 3 = 12.
Words for this week
- divide
- To share a number into equal groups, or to find how many groups fit.
- fraction
- A number that names equal parts of a whole, like 3/4.
- quotient
- The answer you get when you divide.
- denominator
- The bottom number in a fraction. It tells how many equal parts the whole is cut into.
- whole
- All of something. In 3 + 4 = 7, the whole is 7.
Read this week
Skeleton
A short the human body article from our Learn library, chosen for this reading level. Read it together, then ask your child to tell you one new thing they learned.