Grade 4 Fractions: Word Problems

Worked examples

Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.

1. Example 1

   A recipe uses 3/8 of a cup of sugar. How much sugar is needed for 5 batches?

   1. Write the story as a number sentence: 5 × 3/8.
   2. 5 × 3/8 means 5 groups of 3/8.
   3. Multiply the whole number by the numerator: 5 × 3 = 15. The denominator stays 8.
   4. So 5 × 3/8 = 15/8.

   Answer: 15/8

2. Example 2

   A jug held 5/6 of a gallon of juice. Leo poured out 1/6 of a gallon. How much juice is left in the jug?

   1. Write the story as a number sentence: 5/6 − 1/6.
   2. The denominators are the same (6), so the pieces are the same size.
   3. Subtract the numerators and keep the denominator: 5 − 1 = 4, so the difference is 4/6.
   4. So 5/6 − 1/6 = 4/6.

   Answer: 4/6

3. Example 3

   Ava ran 6/8 of a mile. Jonah ran 1/8 of a mile. How much farther did Ava run than Jonah?

   1. Write the story as a number sentence: 6/8 − 1/8.
   2. The denominators are the same (8), so the pieces are the same size.
   3. Subtract the numerators and keep the denominator: 6 − 1 = 5, so the difference is 5/8.
   4. So 6/8 − 1/8 = 5/8.

   Answer: 5/8