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Multiplying Fractions

Grade 5 · 10 worksheets

About this skill

Multiplying fractions means taking a part of a part — half of a third of a pan of brownies. These worksheets make that visible with area models and number lines before the shortcut, then build through whole numbers times fractions, fraction times fraction, mixed numbers, simplifying answers, and the judgment call of whether a product will be bigger or smaller than the factors. Recipe problems put the skill to work in a context students can taste.

Teaching notes

Draw first, compute second: an area model or number line should come before “multiply across” until the picture is in their heads.
The predictable errors: adding denominators, and multiplying a whole number into both the numerator and denominator. Predicting bigger-or-smaller before solving exposes both.
Extend at home or in class with recipes — doubling and halving a real recipe is fraction multiplication with a purpose.