Unit fractions: modeling word problems
Key notes :
📌 What is a Unit Fraction?
- A unit fraction is a fraction with 1 as the numerator.
- Example: 1/2 , 1/3 , 1/4
- Tip: Only the top number = 1 ✅
🖼️ Modelling Fractions
- Draw shapes (circle, rectangle, bar) to show fractions visually.
- Divide the shape into equal parts and shade 1 part for the unit fraction.
- Example: 🍰 A cake cut into 4 equal parts → shading 1 part = 1/4
🧩 Understanding Word Problems
- Read the problem carefully.
- Identify the total quantity and the fraction needed.
- Look for words like: “shared equally”, “part of”, “one of the”.
✏️ Step-by-Step Approach
- Identify the whole. 🌍
- Determine how many equal parts it is divided into. 🔢
- Find 1 part to get the unit fraction. 1️⃣
- Multiply or divide if more than 1 part is needed. ✖️➗
📊 Using Models to Solve
- Draw bar models, pie charts, or number lines to make fractions easier.
- Example: “Sam ate 1/5 of a pizza” → divide pizza into 5 parts, shade 1 part.
💡 Tips for Solving Word Problems
- Always check: Does the shaded part match the fraction? ✅
- Convert unit fraction to multiple parts if needed.
- Use real-life objects: fruits 🍎, chocolates 🍫, pencils ✏️.
🔢 Examples:
Problem: A chocolate bar has 8 pieces. John eats 1 piece. What fraction did he eat?
- Solution: 1/8
Problem: A ribbon is cut into 6 equal parts. Anna takes 1 part. What fraction?
- Solution: 1/6
🎯 Key Remember:
- Unit fractions always have 1 on top.
- Use models to visualize the fraction.
- Word problems = real-life fractions!
Learn with an example
Maya has baked a giant chocolate chip biscuit. She knows she should not eat the whole thing at once. So, she cuts the biscuit into 2 equal pieces.
Which fraction model represents one piece of the biscuit?
The biscuit is the whole.
Maya cuts the biscuit into 2 equal pieces. The fraction model should have 2 equal parts.
Colour 1 part to show one piece of the biscuit.
This fraction model shows 1/2. It represents one piece of the biscuit.
Bella is making a round rug for the floor in her bedroom. Bella uses 2 equal-sized pieces of cloth to make her rug.
Which fraction model represents one piece of the rug?
The rug is the whole.
Bella makes the rug out of 2 equal-sized pieces of cloth. The fraction model should have 2 equal parts.
Colour 1 part to show one piece of the rug.
This fraction model shows 1/2. It represents one piece of the rug.
Jude collects interesting rocks that he finds while hiking in the mountains. For show-and-tell today, Jude is bringing his collection of 3 rocks to school.
Which fraction model represents one rock of the collection?
The collection is the whole.
Jude’s collection has 3 rocks. The fraction model should have 3 equal parts.
Colour 1 part to show one rock of the collection.
This fraction model shows1/3. It represents one rock of the collection.
Let’s practice!
