Math word problems worksheet with fraction-based questions for students.

Let’s solve each problem one by one. We’ll subtract mixed numbers carefully, making sure to convert them if needed and find common denominators.

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Problem 1:
Mike has 5½ week’s pay in wallet, 6¼ in bank. How many more weeks in bank?

→ Subtract: 6¼ - 5½
Convert to improper fractions or same denominator:
6¼ = 25/4, 5½ = 11/2 = 22/4
25/4 - 22/4 = 3/4

✔ Answer: ¾ week

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Problem 2:
Sandy has 4½ books left, read 1⅚ on Saturday. How many more to read?

Wait — this is tricky wording. “Has 4½ books left to read” means that’s what she still needs to read *after* reading some? Or before?

Actually, re-read: “Sandy has 4½ books left to read for school. Sandy read 1⅚ books on Saturday.”

That doesn’t make sense — if she already had 4½ left, and then read more, she’d have less left. But the question says “how many more does she have to read?” after reading 1⅚.

Probably it means: She started with some amount, read 1⅚, and now has 4½ left? No — the sentence structure suggests:

She has 4½ books left (total remaining), and she read 1⅚ on Saturday — but that would mean she read part of the 4½? That doesn’t fit.

Wait — maybe it’s a typo or misphrasing. Let’s assume:

“Sandy has 4½ books to read total. She read 1⅚ on Saturday. How many more does she have to read?”

That makes sense.

So: 4½ - 1⅚

Convert:
4½ = 9/2 = 27/6
1⅚ = 11/6
27/6 - 11/6 = 16/6 = 8/3 = 2⅔

✔ Answer: 2⅔ books

*(Note: If the original meant something else, this is the most logical interpretation.)*

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Problem 3:
Sam picked 1⁶⁄₁₁ buckets, Nancy picked 2²⁄₉. How many more did Nancy pick?

Subtract: 2²⁄₉ - 1⁶⁄₁₁

Find common denominator of 9 and 11 → 99

2²⁄₉ = 2 + 2/9 = 20/9 = (20×11)/(9×11) = 220/99
1⁶⁄₁₁ = 1 + 6/11 = 17/11 = (17×9)/(11×9) = 153/99

220/99 - 153/99 = 67/99

✔ Answer: ⁶⁷₉₉ buckets

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Problem 4:
Joan walks 1³⁄₈ miles, Mike walks 1¹⁄₁₂ miles. How much further does Joan walk?

Subtract: 1³⁄₈ - 1¹⁄₁₂

Whole numbers cancel: ³⁄₈ - ¹⁄₁₂

Common denominator of 8 and 12 → 24

³⁄₈ = 9/24
¹⁄₁₂ = 2/24
9/24 - 2/24 = 7/24

✔ Answer: ⁷⁄₂₄ mile

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Problem 5:
Fabric for pillows: 1⁵⁄₁₁ ft, for flag: 3½ ft. How much more for flag?

Subtract: 3½ - 1⁵⁄₁₁

Convert:
3½ = 7/2
1⁵⁄₁₁ = 16/11

Common denominator of 2 and 11 → 22

7/2 = 77/22
16/11 = 32/22
77/22 - 32/22 = 45/22 = 2¹⁄₂₂

✔ Answer: 2¹⁄₂₂ feet

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Problem 6:
Mary spends 2¹⁄₈ hours running, 1⁶⁄₇ at mall. How much less time at mall vs running?

Subtract: 2¹⁄₈ - 1⁶⁄₇

Convert:
2¹⁄₈ = 17/8
1⁶⁄₇ = 13/7

Common denominator of 8 and 7 → 56

17/8 = (17×7)/56 = 119/56
13/7 = (13×8)/56 = 104/56
119/56 - 104/56 = 15/56

✔ Answer: ¹⁵⁄₅₆ hour

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Problem 7:
Keith wants to do 2⁷⁄₈ crosswords, already done 1⁵⁄. What fraction left?

Subtract: 2⁷⁄₈ - 1⁵⁄₈ = (2-1) + (7/8 - 5/8) = 1 + 2/8 = 1 + 1/4 = 1¼

But question asks: “What fraction of crosswords does Keith have left to finish?”

Total he wanted: 2⁷⁄ = 23/8
Done: 1⁵⁄ = 13/8
Left: 23/8 - 13/8 = 10/8 = 5/4 = 1¼

But “fraction of crosswords” — probably means as a fraction of the total? Or just how many left?

The question says: “What fraction of crosswords does Keith have left to finish?”

It might be asking for the amount left, not relative to total. Since all problems so far are absolute differences, likely they want the number left: 1¼

But let’s check: 2⁷⁄₈ - 1⁵⁄₈ = 1²⁄₈ = 1¼? Wait:

2⁷⁄₈ minus 1⁵⁄₈:

Whole: 2 - 1 = 1
Fraction: 7/8 - 5/8 = 2/8 = 1/4
So 1 + 1/4 = 1¼

Yes.

But the question says “what fraction” — maybe they want it as an improper fraction? 5/4?

Or perhaps they mean “what portion of the total”? Let’s see:

Total = 23/8
Left = 10/8
Fraction left = (10/8) / (23/8) = 10/23

But that seems too advanced for this level, and other problems don’t ask for ratios.

Looking back at problem 7: “What fraction of crosswords does Keith have left to finish?”

In context, since others are “how many more”, this is likely just asking for the amount left, expressed as a mixed number or fraction.

Given that, and since 1¼ is correct, but let’s write as improper fraction if needed? The answer space is blank line — probably accept mixed number.

But to be safe, let’s compute exactly:

2⁷⁄₈ - 1⁵⁄₈ = (23/8) - (13/8) = 10/8 = 5/4 = 1¼

I think 1¼ is fine.

✔ Answer: 1¼ or ⁵⁄ — but since others use mixed numbers, we’ll go with 1¼

Wait — the problem says “what fraction”, so maybe they want ⁵⁄? But 1¼ is also a fraction.

To match format, let’s leave as mixed number unless specified.

Actually, looking at problem 10, it uses mixed numbers in answers. So 1¼ is okay.

But let me double-check calculation:

2⁷⁄ = 2 + 7/8
Minus 1⁵⁄₈ = 1 + 5/8
= (2-1) + (7/8 - 5/8) = 1 + 2/8 = 1 + 1/4 = 1¼

Yes.

✔ Answer: 1¼

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Problem 8:
Recipe calls for 1⁷⁄₈ cups onions, 2⁷⁄₈ cups spinach. How many more cups spinach?

Subtract: 2⁷⁄ - 1⁷⁄₈ = (2-1) + (7/8 - 7/8) = 1 + 0 = 1

✔ Answer: 1 cup

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Problem 9:
Sara is 1⁷⁄₈ ft tall, Sandy is 1²⁄₃ ft tall. How much taller is Sara?

Subtract: 1⁷⁄₈ - 1²⁄₃

Whole numbers cancel: ⁷⁄₈ - ²⁄₃

Common denominator of 8 and 3 → 24

⁷⁄ = 21/24
²⁄₃ = 16/24
21/24 - 16/24 = 5/24

✔ Answer: ⁵⁄₂₄ foot

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Problem 10:
Tim should practice 3⁷⁄₁₂ hours, already played 1¹¹⁄₁₂. How many more needed?

Subtract: 3⁷⁄₁₂ - 1¹¹⁄₁₂

Can’t subtract 11/12 from 7/12, so borrow:

3⁷⁄₁₂ = 2 + 1 + 7/12 = 2 + 19/12
Better: 3⁷⁄₁₂ = (3×12 + 7)/12 = 43/12
1¹¹⁄₁₂ = (1×12 + 11)/12 = 23/12
43/12 - 23/12 = 20/12 = 5/3 = 1²⁄₃

Alternatively:
3⁷⁄₁₂ - 1¹¹⁄₁₂
Borrow 1 from 3: becomes 2, and add 12/12 to 7/12 → 19/12
So 2¹⁹⁄₁₂ - 1¹¹⁄₁₂ = (2-1) + (19/12 - 11/12) = 1 + 8/12 = 1 + 2/3 = 1²⁄₃

✔ Answer: 1²⁄₃ hours

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Now, compiling all final answers:

1) ¾
2) 2⅔
3) ⁶⁷⁄₉₉
4) ⁷⁄₂₄
5) 2¹⁄₂₂
6) ¹⁵⁄₅
7) 1¼
8) 1
9) ⁵⁄₂₄
10) 1²⁄₃

Final Answer:
1) \frac{3}{4}
2) 2\frac{2}{3}
3) \frac{67}{99}
4) \frac{7}{24}
5) 2\frac{1}{22}
6) \frac{15}{56}
7) 1\frac{1}{4}
8) 1
9) \frac{5}{24}
10) 1\frac{2}{3}