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The ideas in this fraction lesson are taken from the ebooks that are sold on this website. Only a few examples of each problem type are shown; you should make more problems of each kind for the student.


Multiplying fractions by a whole number
Free fraction lesson plan from HomeschoolMath.net

Color first 

1

6

.  Color another 

1

6

.  Continue
 till you have colored seven times 

1

6

 .
 
      7 × 

1

6

 =
Color first 

2

5

.  Color another 

2

5

.  Continue
 till you have colored four times 

2

5

 .
 
   4 × 

2

5

 =

 

We know that multiplication by a whole number is repeated addition:

  5 × 4  =  4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4  = 20

  3 × 120  =  120 + 120 + 120  = 360

Multiplying a fraction by a whole number works exactly the same:

3 ×

1

4

  =  

1

4

+

1

4

+

1

4

  = 

 

 

3 ×

2

9

  =  

2

9

+

2

9

+

2

9

  = 

 

 

 = 

 

 

(simplify the answer)

Example problem types

1.  Write the multiplication problems as addition problems and solve.  Give your answer as a mixed number and simplify the fractional parts to lowest terms whenever possible.

5 ×

1

4

=
 
2 ×

2

3

=
4 ×

2

7

=
5 ×

2

10

=

2.  Do as above, but do the work in your notebook.  Can you notice a SHORTCUT to the problems where you don't have to write them as addition?

a.   3 ×

2

9

c.   5 ×

1

6

e.   8 ×

1

9

g.   4 ×

5

7

i.   6 ×

7

10

The shortcut is (explain) __________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

 

Remember?
To find 

1

2

of a number you need to _______________________________________
To find 

1

3

of a number you need to _______________________________________
To find 

1

4

of a number you need to _______________________________________

A fraction of a number is the same as that fraction TIMES the number.  In other words,
the word 'of' translates into multiplication.  For example:

1

2

of 24 = 

1

2

×24 = 12              

1

7

of 35 = 

1

7

×35 = 5
  • Remember you can use division when finding 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, etc. of a number!


We know one can do multiplication both ways, or the order doesn't matter.  
In other words, multiplication is commutative.  See the examples:

1

4

 × 12   means   a fourth part of 12 (objects),    








which is 12 ÷ 4 = 3.
 

12

 × 

1

4

  means  12 times 1/4,

=
which is 3 wholes.
 

In other words, fourth part of 12 is the same as 12 fourth parts.

 

1

3

 ×  5   means   a third part of 5 (objects),  



which is 5 ÷ 3 = 1 2/3.
 
         

5

 × 

1

3

  means   5 times 1/3,
 =
 
which is 5/3 = 1 2/3.
 

In other words, _____ part of 5 is the same as ___   ______ parts.

 

2

5

 × 10   means   two-fifth parts of 10,





  which is (10 ÷ 5) × 2 = 4.  

 
        

10

 × 

2

5

  means   10 times 2/5,

=

which is 4 wholes.
 

In other words, _____ part of 10 is the same as ___   ______ parts.

 

The usual way of writing these is 

1

4

× 12 = 

1 × 12

4

 = 

12

4

 = 3    compare with 12 × 

1

4

 = 

12 × 1

4

 = 

12

4

 = 3
 

1

3

× 5  =

1 × 5

3

 = 

5

3

 = 1

2

3

   compare with   

5 × 

1

3

 =

5 × 1

3

 = 

5

3

 = 1

2

3

 

2

5

× 10 = 

2 × 10

5

 = 

20

5

 = 4    compare with 10 × 

2

5

 =

10 × 2

5

 = 

20

5

 = 4

3.  Multiply.

a.   5 ×

7

9

b.   10 ×

5

12

c.  

4

9

× 7
d.  

14

25

× 3
e.   16 ×

1

12

4.  This morning one of the kids is sick, so Mom only 
wants to make 2/3 of the recipe.  How much does she
need of each ingredient?  (dl stands for deciliter)
Pancakes

4 dl water
2 eggs
3 dl whole wheat flour
(pinch of salt)
50 g butter for frying

 
5.  For a coming get-together, Alison needs to multiply
the coffee recipe.  Assume that half of the guests drink
one serving, and the other half drink two servings.  Find 
how much coffee she needs, if she has  
a)  30 guests  b)  50 guests   c)  80 guests.
Coffee (5 servings)

3 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup coffee

 

Next lesson: Multiplying fractions, part 2


The ideas in this fraction lesson are taken from the Fractions 2 ebook sold on this website. Only a few examples of each problem type are shown; you should make more problems of each kind for the student.

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