Here are the step-by-step solutions for the four fraction word problems.
Problem #5
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The Goal: Find out how many total cups of berries Lucy has.
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Step 1: Identify the amounts. She has $3 \frac{4}{5}$ cups of blueberries and $\frac{2}{5}$ cups of raspberries.
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Step 2: Add the two amounts together: $3 \frac{4}{5} + \frac{2}{5}$.
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Step 3: First, add the fractions. Since the bottom numbers (denominators) are both 5, you can just add the top numbers: $\frac{4}{5} + \frac{2}{5} = \frac{6}{5}$.
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Step 4: The fraction $\frac{6}{5}$ is an improper fraction because the top number is bigger than the bottom number. We need to turn it into a mixed number. 5 goes into 6 one time with 1 left over. So, $\frac{6}{5} = 1 \frac{1}{5}$.
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Step 5: Add this whole number (1) to the original whole number of blueberry cups (3). $3 + 1 = 4$.
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Step 6: Combine the new whole number with the remaining fraction. You have 4 whole cups and $\frac{1}{5}$ of a cup left.
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Result: $4 \frac{1}{5}$ cups.
Problem #6
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The Goal: Find out how many pounds of coffee beans are needed for 4 pots.
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Step 1: Identify the rate. One pot takes $\frac{3}{10}$ of a pound.
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Step 2: Multiply the amount for one pot by the number of pots (4).
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Step 3: Calculation: $4 \times \frac{3}{10}$. To multiply a whole number by a fraction, multiply the whole number by the top number (numerator): $4 \times 3 = 12$. Keep the bottom number (denominator) the same: 10.
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Step 4: The result is $\frac{12}{10}$ pounds.
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Step 5: Simplify the fraction. Both 12 and 10 can be divided by 2. $\frac{12 \div 2}{10 \div 2} = \frac{6}{5}$.
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Step 6: Convert $\frac{6}{5}$ to a mixed number. 5 goes into 6 one time with 1 left over. So, it is $1 \frac{1}{5}$.
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Result: $1 \frac{1}{5}$ pounds (or 1.2 pounds).
Problem #7
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The Goal: Find out how much pizza Kendra ate for dinner.
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Step 1: Identify the total amount eaten and the amount saved. She ate $\frac{7}{8}$ in total. She saved (leftover) $\frac{2}{8}$.
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Step 2: Subtract the leftover amount from the total amount to find what was eaten at dinner.
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Step 3: Calculation: $\frac{7}{8} - \frac{2}{8}$.
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Step 4: Since the bottom numbers are the same, subtract the top numbers: $7 - 2 = 5$.
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Step 5: Keep the bottom number the same.
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Result: $\frac{5}{8}$ of a pizza.
Problem #8
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The Goal: Find out how many hours Joey watches TV in total.
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Step 1: Identify the length of one episode and the number of episodes. One episode is $\frac{1}{2}$ hour long. He watches 4 episodes.
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Step 2: Multiply the length of one episode by the number of episodes.
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Step 3: Calculation: $4 \times \frac{1}{2}$.
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Step 4: Multiply the whole number by the top number: $4 \times 1 = 4$. The bottom number stays 2. Result: $\frac{4}{2}$.
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Step 5: Simplify the fraction. $\frac{4}{2}$ means 4 divided by 2, which equals 2.
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Result: 2 hours.
Final Answer:
#5: 4 1/5 cups
#6: 1 1/5 pounds
#7: 5/8 of a pizza
#8: 2 hours
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of fraction word problems 4th grade worksheet.
