SME
Grade 5 Math · Problem type
Interpret fractions as division
Use this for “An 11-meter ribbon cut into 3 equal pieces. How long is each?”
Diagram
3 wholes shared by 4: 3 × 1/4 = 3/4 for each person.
This is an example. Type your own values to start a new problem.
Wholes
÷
People
=
Wholes left to cut
People
Formulas
whole groups of 4 in 3 = 0
Wholes ÷ people = whole ones each, with some left over
left over when 3 is shared by 4 = 3
Wholes left after the whole ones = wholes left to cut
Assumptions
•
Share each whole among the people: everyone gets 1 piece of each whole.
•
With 3 wholes and 4 people, each gets 3 pieces of 1/4: 3 ÷ 4 = 3/4.
•
More wholes than people: each gets some whole ones, and the rest is shared.
Step-by-step
WE KNOW
Wholes: 3
People: 4
FIND
whole ones each, wholes left to cut
Step 1 · Find whole ones each
whole groups of 4 in 3 = ?
Wholes ÷ people = whole ones each, with some left over
How many whole ones can each person get?
3 is less than 4: no whole ones each
Whole ones each = 0
Step 2 · Find wholes left to cut
left over when 3 is shared by 4 = ?
Wholes left after the whole ones = wholes left to cut
Cut each whole that is left into as many pieces as people.
3 − 0 = 3
Wholes
left
to
cut
=
3
(each
gets
3
÷
4
=
3
4
)
Check
Put the numbers back in. Both sides should match.
3
÷
4
=
3
4
✓
left over when 3 is shared by 4 = 3 ✓
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Divide unit fractions by whole numbers
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Volume of rectangular prisms (length × width × height)
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