Fractions-Dividing
and Whole Numbers
Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2
Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 6
Activity Page ▶ pages 7
Practice Page ▶ page 8
Grade Level: 5
Homework Page
Answer Key
▶
▶
page 9
page 10 - 11
Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: 5
1. Ask students if they know the difference between multiplying Objectives:
whole numbers with fractions and dividing whole numbers
The students will be able to divide unit
with fractions.
fractions by whole numbers and whole
2. Allow for responses and discussion. Review the numbers by unit fractions
multiplication of whole numbers and fractions by allowing
Common Core State Standards:
students to demonstrate.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NF.B.7
3. Introduce Fractions-Dividing and Whole Numbers to the
class. Class Sessions (45 minutes):
4. Distribute Fractions-Dividing and Whole Numbers content 1 or 2 class sessions
pages. Read and review the information with the students.
Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
Save the final question for the lesson closing. Use the
additional resources to enhance understanding. Fractions-Dividing and Whole Numbers
content pages (2), Activity page,
5. Distribute Activity page. Read and review the instructions.
Practice page, Homework page
Each pair of students will create four different word problems
to be shared with another pair of students. Two will Student Supplies:
require whole number division by a fraction and two will
require fraction division by a whole number. Allow time handouts
for completion. Prepare Ahead of Time:
6. Once completed, the pair of students will meet with another Pair students for activity. Copy
pair and will solve each other’s word problems. handouts.
7. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’ Options for Lesson:
responses.
Students may work alone or in groups
8. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and for the activity. Students create a
review the students’ responses. poster showing how to divide whole
9. In closing, ask students: How many whole pizzas would numbers and fractions. Use fraction
you need to feed your classroom? How pieces would there manipulatives to show fractions divided
be if you divided the number of pizzas by eighths or 1/8? by whole numbers or whole numbers
divided by fractions. Students write
10. Direct students to write out the information. They can a paragraph explaining the process
choose any number of whole pizzas and then divide that and steps but do not use examples of
number by 1/8. Ask student volunteers to demonstrate images.
the solution to the division problem using different whole
numbers for the pizzas.
1
Teacher Notes
The lesson introduces the basic understanding of dividing unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers
by unit fractions. Students should already have mastered the skill of multiplying whole numbers with fractions.
For many students, the most difficult concept to remember is to invert once a whole number is turned into a
fraction and is used to divide another fraction. Subsequent lessons will involve interpreting the division of a
unit fraction and creating a story context. The lesson may be used in conjunction with other lessons related
to multiplication or division of fractions.
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Additional Resources:
Content:
https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fractions-division-whole-numbers.html
https://www.wikihow.com/Divide-a-Whole-Number-With-a-Fraction
https://www.ck12.org/arithmetic/divide-fractions-and-whole-numbers/lesson/Division-of-Fractions-by-Whole-
Numbers-MSM6/
Worksheets:
http://www.counton.org/resources/misconceptions/pdfs/miscon05.pdf
https://www.k5learning.com/free-math-worksheets/fifth-grade-5/fractions-multiplication-division/divide-whole-
numbers-by-fractions
http://www.math-aids.com/Fractions/Dividing_Fractions_and_Whole_Numbers.html (create your own)
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQJ76RT_3oM&vl=en (2 min)
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-fifth-grade-math/cc-5th-fractions-topic/tcc-5th-div-frac-whole-word-
prob/v/dividing-a-whole-number-by-a-fraction-word-problem (2:30 min)
2
Division
You likely know how to divide whole numbers. For example, if you have 10 pieces of candy and want to share
that candy, you can easily share it with five of your friends. You simply divide the 10 pieces by 5, and each of
your friends will receive 2 pieces. Whole number division is often as easy as knowing your multiplication facts.
24 ÷ 4 = 6 36 ÷ 6 = 6 54 ÷ 6 = 9 56 ÷ 8 = 7 15 ÷ 3 = 5
All numbers can be divided. The quotient (answer to a division problem) can be a whole number, decimal,
or may be written as a fraction. For example, if you have 1 sheet of paper and want to split it in half, you are
dividing the sheet of paper by one-half and the result is two smaller sheets of paper or 2 halves of a single
piece of paper. Of course, the two halves when added together will equal 1 whole.
You could also take one half of the sheet of paper and divide it by two. The two new sheets would be much
smaller and would be equal to only one-fourth of the original full page of the paper.
All whole numbers can be divided by a fraction, and all fractions can be divided by whole numbers.
3
Dividing Fractions and Whole Numbers
You divide whole numbers by other whole numbers, but you can divide fractions whole numbers whole
numbers by fractions:
1/3 ÷ 10 4/7 ÷ 3 8/9 ÷ 6
5 ÷ 2/3 3 ÷ 1/2 8 ÷ 3/4
Imagine half of a pizza as shown by the shaded part of
the circle. You have decided to share it with 3 friends.
The division problem would be written as follows:
1/2 of the pizza ÷ by 3 friends or 1/2 ÷ 3. How much
pizza will each of your friends receive?
Step 1: Change the whole number/divisor Each of your friends will receive
to a fraction: 3 = 3/1 one-sixth or 1/6 of the original
whole pizza:
Step 2: Invert (or flip) the new fraction: 1/3
Step 3: Change the problem to
multiplication: 1/2 x 1/3
Step 4: Multiply as usual: 1/2 x 1/3 = 1/6
4
The above shows how to divide a fraction by a whole number. However, you can also divide a whole number
by a fraction.
Imagine that you now have 3 whole pizzas as shown by the circles. You have decided to divide the pizzas
into quarters. The division problem would be written as follows:
3 pizzas divided by quarters or 3 ÷ 1/4 .
How many total pieces will you now have?
Step 1: Change the whole number to a fraction: By dividing the 3 whole pizzas by one-quar-
3 = 3/1 ter, the total pieces you now have will be 12:
Step 2: Invert (or flip) the divisor:
4/1
Step 3: Change the problem to multiplication:
3/1 x 4/1
Step 4: Multiply as usual:
3/1 x 4/1 = 12/1 = 12
5
Dividing whole numbers by fractions or fractions by whole numbers is almost the same as multiplying fractions
by fractions or whole numbers. You must always do the following:
2/5 ÷ 4 7 ÷ 3/8
1. Change the whole numbers to fractions 2/5 ÷ 4/1 7/1 ÷ 3/8
2. Invert the fraction divisor 2/5 ÷ 1/4 7/1 ÷ 3/8
3. Change the problem to multiplication 2/5 × 1/4 7/1 × 8/3
4. Multiply as usual 2/5 × 1/4 = 2/20 = 1/10 7/1 × 8/3 = 56/3 = 18 2/3
After you multiply, as usual, change improper fractions to mixed numbers and/or reduce if necessary.
Dividing whole numbers with fractions is as easy as multiplying whole numbers, but you must remember to
always invert the divisor and then change the problem from division to multiplication.
How many whole pizzas would you need to feed your
classroom? How pieces would there be if you divided
the number of pizzas by eighths or 1/8?
6
Activity Name __________________________ Date _________
Work cooperatively with your partner. Create four different word problems. Two of them must
require whole number division by a fraction and the other two must require a fraction being divided
by a whole number. Once completed, you will meet with another pair of students who will solve the
problems. Use a separate sheet of paper as an answer key.
Use the following space for your four problems:
1 2
3 4
7
Practice Name __________________________ Date _________
Divide.
1 13
2/5 ÷ 3 = 4 ÷ 3/2 =
2 14
2/5 ÷ 5 = 3/4 ÷ 3 =
3 15
2 ÷ 6/7 = 1/8 ÷ 3 =
4 16
4 ÷ 1/2 = 7 ÷ 1/7 =
5 17
8 ÷ 2/3 = 1 ÷ 3/7 =
6 18
5/7 ÷ 9 = 3/2 ÷ 8 =
7 19
1/4 ÷ 6 = 5 ÷ 5/2 =
8 20
8 ÷ 1/6 = 1/11 ÷ 11 =
9 = 21 =
4/9 ÷ 1 11/12 ÷ 6
10 = 22 =
2 ÷ 1/5 4 ÷ 4/5
11 = 23 =
1/9 ÷ 7 3/8 ÷ 12
12 = 24 =
10 ÷ 10/11 3 ÷ 9/7
8
Homework Name __________________________ Date _________
Solve.
1. Thomas had five sheets of paper and wanted to divide it into thirds. How many pieces will there be after
he divides the five sheets?
2. Jessie had one-half of a bag of cookies she wanted to share with four friends. What fraction of the bag
of cookies will each friend receive?
3. There were two-thirds of a pizza remaining. Noah wanted to split it with three friends. What fraction of
the pizza will each friend receive?
4. Latisha is running five miles this week. She wants to split the five miles and do one-half each day. How
many times in all will she run this week?
5. Terrence had some coins. Two-thirds of the coins were pennies. He wanted to split the pennies into five
groups. What fraction of the coins that are pennies will be in each group?
Use a drawing to show one-half of a rectangle is divided by four. Solve.
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Practice Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________
Divide.
1 13
2/5 ÷ 3 = 2/15 4 ÷ 3/2 = 22/3
2 14
2/5 ÷ 5 = 2/25 3/4 ÷ 3 = 1/4
3 15
2 ÷ 6/7 = 22/3 1/8 ÷ 3 = 1/24
4 16
4 ÷ 1/2 = 8 7 ÷ 1/7 = 49
5 17
8 ÷ 2/3 = 12 1 ÷ 3/7 = 21/3
6 18
5/7 ÷ 9 = 5/63 3/2 ÷ 8 = 3/16
7 19
1/4 ÷ 6 = 1/24 5 ÷ 5/2 = 2
8 20
8 ÷ 1/6 = 48 1/11 ÷ 11 = 1/121
9 = 21 =
4/9 ÷ 1 4/9 11/12 ÷ 6 11/72
10 = 22 =
2 ÷ 1/5 10 4 ÷ 4/5 5
11 = 23 =
1/9 ÷ 7 1/63 3/8 ÷ 12 1/32
12 = 24 =
10 ÷ 10/11 11 3 ÷ 9/7 23/7
10
Homework Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________
Solve.
1. Thomas had five sheets of paper and wanted to divide it into thirds. How many pieces will there be after
he divides the five sheets? 5 ÷ 1/3 = 15
6. Jessie had one-half of a bag of cookies she wanted to share with four friends. What fraction of the bag
of cookies will each friend receive? 1/2 ÷ 4 = 1/8
7. There were two-thirds of a pizza remaining. Noah wanted to split it with three friends. What fraction of
the pizza will each friend receive? 2/3 ÷ 3 = 2/9
8. Latisha is running five miles this week. She wants to split the five miles and do one-half each day. How
many times in all will she run this week? 5 ÷ 1/2 = 10 times
9. Terrence had some coins. Two-thirds of the coins were pennies. He wanted to split the pennies into five
groups. What fraction of the coins that are pennies will be in each group? 2/3 ÷ 5 = 2/15
Use a drawing to show one-half of a rectangle is divided by four. Solve. (will vary)
1/2 1/2 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/8 4/8 = 1/2
1/2 ÷ 4 = 1/8
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