WORD PROBLEMS ON DIVIDING WHOLE NUMBERS BY FRACTIONS

Problem 1 :

Stacy has 4 sheets of paper to make cards. Each card requires 1/2 sheet of paper, how many cards can Stacy make ?

Solution :

Number of sheets of paper Stacy has = 4

Quantity of sheet needed to make a card = 1/2

Number of cards Stacy can make = 4 ÷ (1/2)

= 4 x (2/1)

= 8/1

= 8

So, Stacy can make 8 cards.

Problem 2 :

Corrine picked 1/4 gallon of blackberries. She poured the berries equally into 4 containers. What fraction of a gallon is in each container ?

Solution :

Quantity of blackberries picked = 1/4 gallon

Number of containers = 4

Quantity of blackberries in each container = (1/4) ÷ 4

= (1/4) x (1/4)

= 1/16

Problem 3 :

Cooper's USB drive is 1/2 full with 5 video files. Each video file is the same size. What fraction of the USB drive does 1 video file use ?

Solution :

Quantity of video filled in USB drive = 1/2

Number of videos filled = 5

Space occupied by 1 video file in ?USB drive = 1/2 ÷ 5

= 1/2 x 1/5

= 1/10

Problem 4 :

Mrs Silverstein bought 3 mini cakes for a birthday party. She cut each cakes into quarters and plans to serve each guests 1 quarter of a cake. How many guests can she serve with all her cakes ?

Solution :

Number of cakes she is making = 3

Each cake cut into quarters, that is 1/4

Number of pieces, she will get = 3 ÷ (1/4)

= 3 x (4/1)

= 12

So, she can serve for 12 guests.

Problem 4 :

Mr. Palm has 1/4 pan of lasagna left in the refrigerator. He wants to cut lasagna into equal slices so he can have it for dinner for 3 nights. How much lasagna will he eat each night ?

Solution :

Quantity of lasagna left = 1/4

Number of slices to be cut = (1/4) ÷ 3

= 1/4 x 1/3

= 1/12

He will eat 1/12 lasagna each night.

Problem 5 :

The perimeter of a square is 1/5 meter 

a) Find the length of each side in meter.

b) How long is each side in centimeter ?

Solution :

Perimeter of the square = 1/5 meter.

a) Let a be the side length of the square.

4a = 1/5

One side length = (1/5) ÷ 4

= 1/5 x (1/4)

= 1/20 meter

b) 1 meter = 100 centimeter

Converting 1/20 meter into centimeter :

1/20 meter = 100/20 centimeter

= 5 centimeter 

Problem 6 :

A pallet holding 5 identical crates weighs 1/4 ton 

a)  How many tons does crate weight ?

b) How many pounds does each crate weigh ?

Solution :

Weight of 5 identical crates = 1/4 

a) Weight of each crate :

= (1/4) ÷ 5

= 1/4 x 1/5

= 1/20 ton

b) 1 ton = 2000 pounds

1/20 ton = 2000/20 pounds

= 100 pounds

Problem 7 :

Faye has 5 pieces of ribbon each 1 yard long. She cuts each ribbon into sixths.

a) How many sixths will she have after cutting all the ribbons ?

b) How long will each of the sixths be in inches ?

Solution :

a)  Length of 1 piece of ribbon = 1 yard

length of 5 pieces of ribbon = 5 yards.

5 pieces of ribbon = 1 yard

Number of pieces she cuts each ribbon = 1/6

= 5 ÷ (1/6)

= 5 x (6/1)

= 30

After cutting the ribbon, she will have 30 sixth yards.

b) 1 yard = 36 inches

Each sixth = 1/6 yards

1/6 yard = 36/6 inches

= 6 inches.

Problem 8 :

The glass pitcher is filled with water. 1/8 of the water is poured equally into 2 glasses.

a) What fraction of water is in each glass ?

b)  If each glass has 3 ounces of water in it, how many ounces of water were in the full pitcher ?

Solution :

a)  Quantity of water to be poured = 1/8 of water

Number of glasses available = 2

Quantity of water in each glass = (1/8) ÷ 2

= 1/8 x 1/2

= 1/16

b) Each glass has 3 ounces of water.

2 glasses will contain = 3 x 2 ==> 6 ounces of water.

1/8 part = 6 ounces

1 part = 6 x 8 ounces

= 48 ounces

So, full pitcher consists of 48 ounces of water.