multiplying and dividing fractions problem solving year 6

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Multiply and divide fractions - Problem-Solving Investigation - Year 6

Subject: Mathematics

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

7 March 2019

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This in-depth maths investigation is an open-ended problem solving activity for Year 6 children. It can be used to support teaching towards the objective: multiply and divide fractions.

In-depth Investigation: Mixed up fractions Children add a pair of fractions, multiply the same pair, then find the difference between the two answers, looking for patterns.

This investigation will develop maths meta-skills, support open-ended questioning and logical reasoning, and enable children to learn to think mathematically and articulate mathematical ideas.

This problem-solving investigation is part of our Year 6 Decimals and Fractions block. Each Hamilton maths block contains a complete set of planning and resources to teach a term’s worth of objectives for one of the National Curriculum for England’s maths areas.

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Multiply and Divide (Year 6 Decimals and Fractions)

This bundle provides three days of teaching that cover the objective: **Multiply and divide fractions** *Teaching Presentation* The teaching presentation includes starter activities, whole class teaching, group activities, practice sheets and mastery questions. It can be used on a variety of interactive whiteboards. *Practice Worksheets* The procedural fluency practice worksheets are differentiated for children working towards Age Related Expectations (ARE), at ARE and at greater depth. *Problem-Solving Investigation* This in-depth maths investigation will develop maths meta-skills, and enable children to learn to think mathematically and articulate mathematical ideas. *Extra Support* The extra support activity is designed to be used by a teacher or a TA with children who need extra support. This teaching is part of Hamilton’s [Year 6 Decimals and Fractions](https://www.hamilton-trust.org.uk/maths/year-6-maths/decimals-and-fractions-2/) block. Each Hamilton maths block contains a complete set of planning and resources to teach a term’s worth of objectives for one of the National Curriculum for England’s maths areas.

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Compare and order fractions

Your child will compare fractions and put them in size order.

They will be able to do this with proper fractions (i.e. fractions less than one) and fractions that are greater than one (i.e. improper fractions or mixed numbers ). For example:

 is greater than   is greater than 

Calculate with mixed numbers and fractions with different denominators

Your child will learn to add and subtract fractions with different denominators  (bottom numbers). They will do this by finding equivalent fractions that have the same denominator. For example:

 +   =   +   = 

They will use objects, diagrams, and symbols to solve problems with mixed numbers and fractions, and to explain how they have solved a problem.

Multiply and simplify proper fractions

Your child will be able to multiply pairs of proper fractions (i.e. fractions smaller than 1) together, and then write the answer in its simplest form.

 ×   =   = 

Your child will use objects, diagrams, and symbols in their calculations.

Divide proper fractions by whole numbers

Proper fractions are fractions with a value of less than 1. Your child will be able to divide these kinds of fractions by whole numbers. For example:

Your child will do this using objects, diagrams, and symbols.

Understand the link between fractions, division, and decimals

To find    of 36cm, you would divide 36 by 4 (36cm ÷ 4 = 9 cm).   If you know  of an unknown length is 36cm and you want to find the whole length, you would multiply 36 by 4 (36cm × 4 = 144cm).

Use numbers with 3 decimal places

Your child will understand the value of each digit in numbers with 3 decimal places. They will also be able to multiply and divide numbers by 10, 100, and 1000, giving answers up to 3 decimal places. For example:

9 ÷ 1000 = 0.009   0·734 × 100 = 73.4

Your child will divide decimal numbers by 1-digit whole numbers. At first, they will learn this in practical contexts involving measures and money (for example, 0.65m ÷ 5 = 0.13m).

Multiply numbers with decimal places

Your child will learn to multiply 1-digit numbers with up to 2 decimal places by whole numbers. For example:

2.75 × 2 = 5.5

They will start with simple examples, such as 0.4 × 2 = 0.8, in practical contexts such as using money.

Use written division methods where appropriate

Your child will use written division methods (like long division and short division) in cases where the answer has up to 2 decimal places. You can find out more about these methods on our YouTube channel: see How to do long division and How to do short division .

Round numbers to estimate answers

Your child will round numbers and estimate answers to check their answers to decimal calculations. For example:

2.56 × 5.3 ≈ 2.5 × 5 = 12.5   So, when your child works out the question exactly, they will expect their result to be roughly 12.5. If they get an answer like 1350, they will know something has gone wrong!

Use equivalences between simple fractions, decimals, and percentages

How to help at home

There are lots of ways you can help your child to understand fractions. Here are just a few ideas.

1. Help your child calculate with fractions

They could separate the whole numbers and the fractional parts:

First, add the whole numbers: 3 + 2 = 5.   Then, add the fractional parts:  +   =  .   Finally, add the whole number and fractional parts together to create a mixed number: 5 .

They could turn each mixed number into an improper fraction, then add the improper fractions together, and finally convert the answer back into a mixed number:

First, convert 3   into an improper fraction:  .   Then, convert 2   into an improper fraction:  .   Then, add the improper fractions together:    +      =   .   Finally, turn the answer back into a mixed number:    = 5   .

The same strategies can be applied to subtracting fractions using mixed numbers.

2. Multiply and divide with fractions

In this example, the half is shown on the left by splitting the shape vertically into two equal pieces. The same shape will then be drawn to represent quarters , this time split horizontally into four equal pieces. The diagrams will then be added together to divide the shape into eighths:

The answer can be found where the half and the quarter overlap to make one eighth :

Fraction Calculations in School

3. Calculate with decimals

Your child will continue to practise adding and subtracting with decimal numbers up to 3 decimal places. They will have to understand the effect of multiplying and dividing decimal numbers by 10, 100, 1000, and so on.

Place value charts are a great way to visualise these changes:

Help your child to understand that dividing by 10 means getting ten times smaller, dividing by 100 means getting a hundred times smaller, and so on. The same concept applies to multiplication, but the other way around.

Calculate with numbers that have 3 decimal places in the real world. For example, when you fill the car with petrol, ask your child to tell you what the number is by explaining how many tenths, hundredths, or thousandths it has. Can they round the total price or the total amount of petrol to the nearest whole number, tenth, or hundredth? For example:

If you have 56.784 litres of petrol, you could round to the nearest litre (57L), tenth (56.8L), or hundredth (56.78L).

Money and measures are great for practising using numbers with 2 decimal places. You could show your child your shopping receipt with the total hidden. Ask your child to work out the total cost of the shopping receipt. How much change you would be given if you paid using, for instance, a £10 note?

4. Link fractions, decimals, and percentages

It is important your child understands that decimals and percentages are just other ways to show fractions.

Fraction, Decimal, and Percentage Treasure Hunt

Practise matching percentages, decimals, and fractions on a fun treasure hunt.

5. Multiply fractions and mixed numbers by whole numbers

Your child will multiply proper fractions and mixed numbers by whole numbers.

6. Percentages

Your child will continue to work with percentages. Talk about how ‘percent’ means ‘number of parts per hundred’.

Sales at the shops can provide great real-life opportunities to work with percentages. For example, you could ask your child to help you work out the sale price of an item. If there is 30% off a T-shirt and the full price is £9.99, what is 30% of the full price and what is the sale price?

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