A girl jogging happily on a sunny park path

Fraction Times Fun Run

Maya runs part of a mile each day she trains. How far will she run in 5 days of training?

4th Grade Math

Step 1: Pick the Expression

Maya runs 3/4 mile each day for 5 days. The bar shows the fraction she runs in one day. Which expression shows her total distance?

5 equal groups of 3/4 means multiply! The product of 5 × 3/4 gives the total distance.

Step 2: Count the Fourths

Analyze the model. Each bar holds 3 filled fourths. Five groups of 3 fourths make how many fourths in all?

Multiply the whole number by the numerator: 5 × 3 = 15. The pieces stay fourths, so 5 × 3/4 = 15/4.

Step 3: Make a Mixed Number

Four fourths make 1 whole mile. The model regroups 15/4 into wholes and leftover fourths. Which mixed number equals 15/4?

15 ÷ 4 = 3 remainder 3, so 15/4 = 3 3/4. Maya runs 3 3/4 miles in 5 days!

Let's Remember

Whole Number × Fraction

          Step 1: Multiply the whole number by the numerator.

          Step 2: Keep the
          denominator
          the same.

          Step 3: Rename the answer as a mixed number if you can.
        

5 × 3/4 = 15/4 = 3 3/4

Watch Out!

A Common Mistake

          Some students write 5 × 3/4 = 15/20. That is wrong!

          The denominator names the size of each piece. Fourths stay fourths.

          Only the numerator gets multiplied: 5 × 3/4 = 15/4.

Word Problem

Ravi paints 2/3 of a fence panel each hour. He paints for 4 hours. How many panels does he paint in all?

4 × 2/3 = 8/3. Then 8 ÷ 3 = 2 remainder 2, so 8/3 = 2 2/3 panels.

Kitchen Math

Keisha needs 5/8 cup of honey for one batch of granola. She makes 3 batches. How much honey does she need?

3 × 5/8 = 15/8. Then 15 ÷ 8 = 1 remainder 7, so 15/8 = 1 7/8 cups.

What Goes in the Blank?

A snail crawls 3/5 meter every minute. After some minutes it has crawled 12/5 meters.

? × 3/5 = 12/5

Think: what missing factor times 3 makes 12? It is 4, because 4 × 3/5 = 12/5.

Frog on a Number Line

0

1/3

2/3

1

4/3

5/3

2

Nia's frog hops 1/3 meter on every jump. It makes 6 jumps along this line. How far does the frog travel?

6 × 1/3 = 6/3, and 6 ÷ 3 = 2. Six hops of 1/3 land right on 2!

Juice Time

Diego pours 3/10 liter of juice into each glass. He fills 5 glasses for his friends. How much juice does he pour in all?

5 × 3/10 = 15/10 = 1 5/10. That is the equivalent fraction for 1 1/2 liters.

Challenge!

Leo walks 2/5 mile to school and 2/5 mile back home each day. How far does he walk in 5 school days?

Each day is 2/5 + 2/5 = 4/5 mile. Then 5 × 4/5 = 20/5 = 4 miles!

When could you multiply a fraction by a whole number in your own life? Think about cooking, sports, or saving money.

Great Work!

0/9

correct

product fraction numerator denominator mixed number analyze