Word Problem Involving Fractions and Division

Three children share 2$frac{1}{2}$ chocolate bars with each child getting the same amount. How much does each child get?

Solution

Step 1:

Number of chocolates that are shared = 2$frac{1}{2}$ = $frac{5}{2}$

Number of children = 3

Step 2:

The fraction of chocolate each child gets

= 2$frac{1}{2}$ ÷ 3 =$frac{5}{2}$ ÷ 3 = $frac{5}{2}$ ÷ $frac{3}{1}$

= $frac{5}{2}$ × $frac{1}{3}$ = $frac{(5×1)}{(2×3)}$ = $frac{5}{6}$

Four brothers inherit 30$frac{1}{3}$ acres of land altogether. They decide to share it equally. How much land does each brother get?

Solution

Step 1:

Number of acres of land inherited = 30$frac{1}{3}$ = $frac{91}{3}$

Number of brothers = 4

Step 2:

The fraction of land each brother gets

= 30$frac{1}{3}$ ÷ 4 = $frac{91}{3}$ ÷ 4

= $frac{91}{3}$ ÷ $frac{4}{1}$ = $frac{91}{3}$ × $frac{1}{4}$

= $frac{(91×1)}{(3×4)}$ = $frac{91}{12}$ = 7$frac{7}{12}$ acres

If it rained the same amount each day for 3 days and the total amount of rain received was 4$frac{1}{3}$ inches, how much did it rain each day?

Solution

Step 1:

Total amount of rain received = 4$frac{1}{3}$ = $frac{13}{3}$

Number of days it rained = 3

Step 2:

The amount of rain received per day

= 4$frac{1}{3}$ ÷ 3 = $frac{13}{3}$ ÷ 3

= $frac{13}{3}$ ÷ $frac{3}{1}$ = $frac{13}{3}$ × $frac{1}{3}$

= $frac{(13×1)}{(3×3)}$ = $frac{13}{9}$ = 1$frac{4}{9}$ inches