IXL | Understanding fractions: word problems

Isabelle has built a long shelf for her collection of textbooks. Before putting her books on the shelf, she divides the shelf into 5 equal sections. Isabelle fills 1 section of the shelf with science books.

What fraction of the shelf does Isabelle fill with science books?

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Learn with an example

question

Kathleen and Manuel are cooking their favorite breakfast, scrambled eggs with canned ham. Manuel opens the can and cuts the ham into 6 equal pieces. Kathleen eats 3 pieces with her eggs.

What fraction of the ham does Kathleen eats with her eggs?

key idea

A fraction represents a part of a whole.

The bottom of a fraction is the number of equal parts in the whole. It is called the denominator.

The top of a fraction is the number of those equal parts you are talking about. It is called the numerator.

solution

The ham is the whole.

Manuel cuts the ham into 6 equal pieces. The denominator of the fraction is 6.

number of equal parts in the whole

Kathleen eats 3 pieces with her eggs. The numerator of the fraction is 3.

number of equal parts you are talking about

Kathleen eats

of the ham with her eggs.

Looking for more? Try these:

Lesson: Fraction area models

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Teacher tools

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

HH.3Fractions of a whole: modeling word problems

J.1Fractions review

Lesson: Fraction area models

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