Fraction Word

Problems
M/J Math 1
EETT Lesson #6
When reading word problems
containing fractions,
certain phrases can indicate the
operation that you need to do in
order to solve the word problem.
 Addition +
“How much together?”
“How far will she travel
from home to the park,
then to the library?”
Subtraction −
“How much more is needed?”
“How much further than?”
“How much is left?”
“How bigger than?”
 Multiplication ×
“Times longer...”
“The product of…”
“A fraction of something…”
Division ÷
“Find the quotient…”
“Divided into to pieces…”
“How many will fit?”
“How many can be split from?”
In the recent Student Government
1
elections, Larry received 3 of the
votes for treasurer and Leah
1
received 15 of the votes.
What fraction of the votes did
both candidates earn together?
Solution:
1 ×5 1
+ =
3 ×5 15
5 1 5+1
+ = =
15 15 15
6 2
=
15 5
Together they
2
received of the
5
votes.
One tree is 6 feet tall. Another
1
one is only 3 4 feet tall. How
much taller is the larger of two
trees.
Solution: 4
6= 5 4
1
−3 4
3
2 4
1
The larger tree is 2 4
feet taller than the
smaller one.
 1
Sean swam 2 miles at swim
3 1
team practice. If Becky swam 1 2
times as far as Sean, then how
many miles did Becky swim?
Solution:
1 1
2 3 ×1 2 =
7 3 21 3 1
× = =3 =3
3 2 6 6 2

1
Becky swam 3 2
miles at swim
team practice.
Charlie works at a livery and uses
a 60 pound bag of oats to feed the
4
horses. If each horse gets 5
pounds of food, then how many
horses can Charlie feed with one
bag of oats?
Solution:
4 60 4
60 ÷ 5 = 1 ÷ 5 =
60 5 300
× = = 75
1 4 4

One bag of oats can

feed 75 horses.