Multiplying Fractions with Whole Numbers Worksheets
We have worked with multiplying and determining the product of fractions. Previous to that you started learning your times tables to memorize set integer products. We put those together to learn this skill. In a way it is simply fraction multiplication with another step that start you off. We need to remember that any whole number can be made into a fraction by simply placing it as the numerator over the denominator of 1. Once you process that step, everything is just straight up fraction multiplication. If you remember, the product of the result is the product of the numerators over the product of the denominators. You will find this skill very handy when ever you wish to scale something like a recipe. If you know that it take half a cup of baking soda to make a cake, you will need one and a half cups of baking soda to make 3 cakes. These worksheets and lesson will help make you comfortable with making these calculations.
Aligned Standard: Grade 5 Fractions - 5.NF.4
- Products of Whole and Parts Step-by-step Lesson- Proper fractions multiplied by whole numbers. A nice guide for you.
- Guided Lesson - Perfectly set up for this skill, I included a word problem and a multiple choice question.
- Guided Lesson Explanation - There are a number of ways to teach this. I have the most success with converting the whole number to a fraction.
- Practice Worksheet - A marathon of word problems for you that all focus on the use of fractions and wholes.
- Matching Worksheet - Match the products to the problems that created them for you.
- Answer Keys - These are for all the unlocked materials above.
Homework Sheets
If students just remember that whole numbers never affect the denominator, they should be good to go.
- Homework 1 - Simplify your answer and write it in the simplest form.
- Homework 2 - The tens are a cinch. There should be enough be enough space for you to work with.
- Homework 3 - Jessica is making squash that calls for 1/4 a spoon of sugar. If she needs to make 8 glasses of squash, how many spoons of sugar will she need?
Practice Worksheets
I used slightly larger numbers here to work more on the operations side of the skill.
- Practice 1 - Fours and fives tend to screw people up. Give it a try.
- Practice 2 - We see more double digit whole numbers here.
- Practice 3 - Even larger numbers to give you more of a try.
Math Skill Quizzes
Your times table skills will be tested in this one.
- Quiz 1 - Let's see what you got? The whole number is stated first in a formatted way for you.
- Quiz 2 - We present you with a bunch of top heavy improper fractions for you to work the product on.
- Quiz 3 - The whole numbers found here are larger than that on previous quizzes.
How to Multiply Whole Numbers and Fractions
You already know that multiplication is a short cut for doing repeated addition. But what if you have a bunch of fractions and whole numbers on repeat and you have to multiply them? In order to multiply a fraction and a whole number, you need to change the whole number to a fraction. Do you remember that you can write a whole number as a fraction? By writing it with 1 as the denominator and placing the whole number as the numerator.
The basic steps for multiplying a whole number by a fraction are:
Step 1- Rewrite Whole Numbers As Top Heavy Fraction: Any whole number can be converted to fraction by simply placing it as the numerator over the denominator of 1.
Step 2- Multiply the Numerators: Just like any fraction multiplication you would find the product of the numerators. That value will become the numerator of the product.
Step 3- Multiply the Denominators: Just like any fraction multiplication you would find the product of the denominators. That value will become the denominator of the product.
Step 4- Reduce the Fraction (Optional): It is good form to write the fraction in the lowest form possible. Just find a factor that fits into both the numerator and denominator to reduce them further.
Let us consider an example 1/7 x 5.
The first step is to change the whole number to fraction, so in this example, the whole number is 5, and it will become 5/1 (whole number as numerator over one as the denominator.
Now, rewrite the problem as the product of two fractions. The example now can be rewritten as 1/7 × 5/1.
The next step is to multiply the two fractions with each other. The numerator needs to be multiplied by the numerator and the denominator with the other denominator. Breaking down each part the numerators would result in a product of 5 (1 x 5) and the denominators would result in a product of 7 (7 x 1). The final product would therefore be: 5/7. This is in the simplest form and cannot be reduced further.