Download MULTIPLICATION 4.NF.4 Solving Word Problems

MULTIPLICATION 4.NF.4
Solving Word Problems - Whole Numbers Times Fractions
Purpose:
To solve problems involving multiplication of a whole number times a fraction
Materials:
Pencils and paper
TEACHER MODELING/STUDENT COMMUNICATION
Activity 1 Whole numbers times unit fractions
1. Pose the following problem and ask students how to use a visual fraction model to
represent the information.
pencils
and paper
 Masie poured 3 containers of water into
her fish tank, and each container held 1/6
of a quart of water. How much water did
she put into her fish tank?
a. How can the information in the problem be represented by a visual fraction
model? (Here is one possibility where each bar represents 1/6 of a quart.)
b. How many parts out of six were poured into the fish tank? (Ans: 3 parts out of 6
or 3/6 of a quart.) This can be illustrated by placing the shaded amounts of the bars
end to end to show there is a total of 3 shaded parts out of the 6 parts in a whole bar.
c. Write a multiplication equation for the total amount of water poured into the tank.
3×
pencils
and paper
1
3
= quarts
6
6
2. For the following question, ask students how to use a visual fraction model to
represent the information and to write a fraction equation for the solution.
 One lap around the track at the Kingston Elementary School is 1/4 of a mile. If
Roy runs 7 laps, how far has he run?
If a bar with 1 part shaded out of 4 is used to represent ¼ of a mile, then a whole bar
for fourths and a ¾ bar represents the total distance run.
7 × 1/4 = 7/4 = 1 ¾ miles
Activity 2 Whole numbers times fractions
pencils
and paper
1. Pose the following problem and ask students how to use a visual fraction model to
represent the information.
 Maria practiced her guitar 2/3 of an hour each day of her four-day vacation.
How many days did she spend practicing her guitar?
a. How can the information in the problem be represented by a visual fraction
model? (Here is one possibility where each bar represents 2/3 of an hour.)
b. How many total shaded parts are represented by these four bars? (8 parts.) This can
be represented by two whole bars and 2 parts out of 3.
8 shaded parts is 2 whole bars and 2/3 of a bar
c. Write an equation to show the total amount of time Maria practiced her guitar.
4 ×
2
3
=
8
3
=2
2
3
d. Between what two whole numbers does the answer lie? (Ans: 2 and 3)
2. For the following question, ask students how to use a visual fraction model to represent
the information and to write a fraction equation for the solution.
 Max ordered 4 fruit baskets online and each weighed 2/5 of a pound. What was
the total shipping weight of the fruit?
If a bar with 2 shaded parts out of 5 shaded is used to represent 2/5 of a pound, then a
whole bar for fifths and a 3/5 bar represents the total weight.
4 × 2/5 = 8/5 = 1 3/5 pounds
2/5
2/5
2/5
2/5
Activity 3 Creating word problems for whole number times fraction
Write the following fractions so that each fraction is on separate piece of paper and turn
these upside down: 1/4, 3/8, 2/5, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 1/3, 7/8, 3/10, 3/5, and 1/6. A student
volunteer randomly selects one of the fractions, and rolls a die to obtain a whole number
greater than 1. Each student makes up a word problem involving the product of the
whole number rolled and the selected fraction. Word problems can be selected for the
class to solve.
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE and ASSESSMENT
Worksheet: 4.NF.4 #4