Question

name:
should i
multiply or divide?
set a worksheet
instructions: write a m next to the problems that you would solve with a multiplication equation
and a d next to the problems you would solve with a division equation.

1. henry found $\frac{1}{3}$ of a pizza in

the fridge. if he ate $\frac{1}{2}$ of it
for a snack, what fraction of
the whole pizza did he eat
for a snack?

1. the running race was 6

kilometers long. if there were
water stations every $\frac{3}{4}$ miles,
how many water stations
were there?

1. the squirrels burrow was

$\frac{4}{5}$ of a meter long. if a
squirrel placed an acorn
every $\frac{1}{10}$ meter, how many
acorns did he place?

1. if it takes candace 1

minute to bike $\frac{1}{5}$ of a mile,
how far could she bike in
7 minutes?

1. the radio station played

upbeat songs for 8 hours
straight. if they took a
commercial break every $\frac{2}{3}$
hours, how many commercial
breaks did they take?

1. the seamstresss strip of

velcro was $\frac{2}{3}$ of a meter long.
if she cuts it into pieces that
are $\frac{1}{12}$ of a meter, how many
pieces will she have?

1. rachaels street had 20

houses on it. marcs street
had $\frac{3}{4}$ the amount of houses
that rachaels had. how many
houses are on marcs street?

1. in mr. frosts fifth grade,

class, $\frac{3}{4}$ of the students are
boys. of the boys, $\frac{3}{4}$ have short
hair. what fraction of the
students in mr. frosts class
are boys with short hair?
© erins classroom creations

Explanation:

Step1: Identify multiplication logic

Multiplication is used when finding a part of a part, scaling a quantity, or repeated addition of a rate.

Step2: Identify division logic

Division is used when splitting a quantity into equal parts, finding how many times a smaller unit fits into a larger one.
---

Problem 1 (Top Left):

Step1: Find fraction of eaten pizza

We calculate a fraction of a fraction, so use multiplication.
$\frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{6}$
Mark: M

Problem 2 (Top Right):

Step1: Convert units first (6 km = 3.728 miles, but use fraction logic: total length ÷ station interval)

We find how many $\frac{3}{4}$ mile segments fit in 6 miles, so use division.
$6 \div \frac{3}{4} = 6 \times \frac{4}{3} = 8$
Mark: D

Problem 3 (Middle Left):

Step1: Find number of acorns

Total burrow length ÷ distance between acorns, so use division.
$\frac{4}{5} \div \frac{1}{10} = \frac{4}{5} \times 10 = 8$
Mark: D

Problem 4 (Middle Right):

Step1: Find total distance biked

Rate per minute × number of minutes, so use multiplication.
$\frac{1}{5} \times 7 = \frac{7}{5} = 1\frac{2}{5}$
Mark: M

Problem 5 (Bottom Left, Top):

Step1: Find number of commercial breaks

Total time ÷ time per break interval, so use division.
$8 \div \frac{2}{3} = 8 \times \frac{3}{2} = 12$
Mark: D

Problem 6 (Bottom Left, Bottom):

Step1: Find houses on Marc's street

Fraction of Rachael's houses × total houses, so use multiplication.
$20 \times \frac{3}{4} = 15$
Mark: M

Problem 7 (Bottom Right, Top):

Step1: Find number of Velcro pieces

Total Velcro length ÷ length per piece, so use division.
$\frac{2}{3} \div \frac{1}{12} = \frac{2}{3} \times 12 = 8$
Mark: D

Problem 8 (Bottom Right, Bottom):

Step1: Find fraction of boys with short hair

Fraction of boys × fraction of short-haired boys, so use multiplication.
$\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{3}{4} = \frac{9}{16}$
Mark: M

Answer:

1. Henry's pizza problem: M
2. Water stations problem: D
3. Squirrel's acorns problem: D
4. Candace's biking problem: M
5. Radio commercial breaks problem: D
6. Marc's street houses problem: M
7. Velcro pieces problem: D
8. Mr. Frost's class boys problem: M