Name: _________________________________

Date:

LETS BE RATIONAL PATTERNS STUDY GUIDE

GRADE 6
Investigation 2: Building on Multiplication with Fractions
You have used of in multiplication statements with whole numbers.
o For example: 2 groups of 12 is the same as 2 x 12 = 24 or 2 groups of is the same as 2 x =
Mathematicians use multiplication to rewrite number sentences involving fractions. When you multiply
a fraction by a fraction, you are finding part of a part:
3
1
4
3 1 3
3 1 3
2
3
of =
is the same as
X =
is the same as
4 2 8
4
2 8
8

TRY THIS: Solve this problem by multiplying and drawing the area model.

2 5
of = N
3 6

You can solve problems involving multiplication with mixed numbers by using what you know about
fractions and changing a mixed number into an improper fraction or you can use the Distributive
Property.
1
2 1 8
1
2 1
2
X2 = X
or
X 2 = X(2+ )
2
3 2 3
2
3 2
3
8
6
2
=1
6
1
=1
3

1
1 2
= ( X 2) + ( X )
2
2 3

2
6

= 1 2 Simplified = 1
6

1
3

TRY THIS: Solve this problem using either of the above methods.
1
4
X 2 =N
4
5

Investigation 3: Dividing with Fractions

Define the following words and label the division problem.

2273
2 4546

Dividend
Divisor
Quotient

When you think of division you need to think about how much you can put into another. For
2
instance, 12 5 = 2 . The answer should tell you how many fives are in 12 wholes. Because a whole
5
number of fives will not fit into 12, you might answer that you now you can make 2 fives and then
2
ths of another five. A model also helps us visualize problems like this.
5

5
5
You can check your work by seeing that the related number sentence is true.
2
5 x 2 = 12
5
1
3
Jasmine has 5 cups of frosting. She wants to put cup of frosting on each cupcake she makes.
4
8
1 3
About how many cupcakes can she frost? 5 = x
4 8

1
Jasmine can frost 14 cupcakes. A model of 5 was drawn to represent the cups of frosting. Next we
4
3
need to find out how many ths are in the total Jasmine has in order to frost her cupcakes. So each cup
8
3
3
of frosting was divided into 8ths. Then each was circled. This left us with a total of 14 sets of s. So
8
8
Jasmine can frost 14 cupcakes.

Strategies to solve division problems:

* Multiply by the reciprocal
* Multiply by the denominator and dividing by the numerator of the divisor
* Common denominators and divide.
* Drawing pictures to help think through the problems.

TRY THESE: Solve this problem by dividing and drawing a model.

1
1
1
Chris needs 2 cups of flour. His only clean measuring cup holds cup. How many cups of
2
3
3
flour does Chris need?

Solve:
4

2
=N
5

Investigation 4: Wrapping Up the Operations

How do I know when a problem is asking me to multiply?

How do I know when a problem is asking me to divide?

1
3
of the students play an instrument. Of the students who play an instrument,
3
5
play a string instrument. What fraction of the students at Taylor High School play a string instrument?

At Taylor High School,

First write the equation:

3 1
X =N
5 3

1
2
Shantal wants to buy 3 cups of almonds. There are of a cup of almonds in each package. How many
3
3
packages of almonds should Shantal buy?
1 2
2
1
= N
so how many s are in 3 ?
3 3
3
3
bags.
3

The circled area shows the answer.

3
th of the students play a string
15
instrument. Or 3 x 1 = 3
5 x 3 = 15

1 10
2
=
so there are 5 groups of s. She buy 5
3
3
3

3
1
N=
solve by rewriting the related number sentence
4
4
3 1
7 4 28
1
=N
x
=
or 7
4 4
4 1
4

1
N=
5
2

15

2
15
1
=N
5

2 5 10
2
x =
or
15 1 15
3

TRY THESE: Solve these problems. Make sure you visualize what is taking place in the problem, think Do
I have the total and am splitting it up?, Am I taking a part of a part?, and then assess your answer for
reasonableness.
5
1
of a can of food each day. Kendrick currently has 3 cans of dog food. For how
6
3
many days will the current supply of dog food last?

Kendrick's dog eats

Dayton picked

1
1
N=
5
3

1
1
N=
2
3

4
2
of a pound of strawberries. That afternoon, Dayton's sister ate of the strawberries.
5
3
How many pounds of strawberries did Dayton's sister eat?