CurriculumGrade 5Mathematics

Fractions as Division

Aligned to 5.NF.B.3 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

What this lesson teaches

A fraction is really a division problem: the top number divided by the bottom number. So a/b means a ÷ b. This helps you share things fairly, even when the answer is not a whole number.

Worked example

Share 7 brownies equally among 4 friends. That is 7 ÷ 4, which is the same as the fraction 7/4. As a mixed number, 7/4 = 1 3/4, so each friend gets 1 whole brownie and 3/4 of another.

Practice questions

  1. Write 3 ÷ 5 as a fraction.
  2. Share 5 sandwiches equally among 2 people. How much does each get?
  3. Nine crackers are split evenly among 4 kids. Write it as a fraction and as a mixed number.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

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En español

Fracciones como división

Una fracción en realidad es una división: el número de arriba dividido entre el de abajo. Así, a/b significa a ÷ b. Esto te ayuda a repartir cosas de forma justa, aunque la respuesta no sea un número entero.

Ejemplo: Reparte 7 brownies en partes iguales entre 4 amigos. Eso es 7 ÷ 4, que es lo mismo que la fracción 7/4. Como número mixto, 7/4 = 1 3/4, así que cada amigo recibe 1 brownie entero y 3/4 de otro.

More Number & Operations—Fractions lessons

Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators5.NF.A.1Multiplying and Dividing Fractions5.NF.B.4Fraction Word Problems5.NF.A.2Multiplying as Scaling5.NF.B.5Multiplying Fractions in Real Life5.NF.B.6Dividing with Unit Fractions5.NF.B.7

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