A fraction of a fraction: 5th grade math lesson

What this lesson shows

1/2 of 1/4 of a pan is 1/8 on an area model. Then a/b × c/d.

The worked example

The lesson works this one step by step: 1/2 × 1/4. Then your kid tries one like it on paper.

The steps

Times means of
Shade a part of a part
Tops times tops, bottoms times bottoms

Helping at home

Times means "of". On a square, shade the second fraction in columns, then the first fraction of that in rows. Count the parts shaded twice out of all the parts. That is tops times tops over bottoms times bottoms. No simplifying needed.

If your kid gets stuck

Draw it on a square, or multiply tops and bottoms.

Watch it with Lux

With Lux, this lesson is a narrated video and a printed page your kid works on. Then Lux helps with the same math on their own worksheet, one question at a time.

See how Lux works

Standards

Common Core 5.NF.B.4a
Interpret the product (a/b) × q as a parts of a partition of q into b equal parts; equivalently, as the result of a sequence of operations a × q ÷ b. For example, use a visual fraction model to show (2/3) × 4 = 8/3, and create a story context for this equation. Do the same with (2/3) × (4/5) = 8/15. (In general, (a/b) × (c/d) = (ac)/(bd).

Matches standards in 46 statesSee each state's code

Alabama MA19.5.12a, MA19.5.12b
Alaska 5.NF.4.a
Arizona 5.NF.B.4.a, 5.NF.B.4.b
Arkansas 5.CAR.7
California 5.NF.B.4
Colorado 5.NF.B.4.a
Connecticut 5.NF.B.4
Delaware 5.NF.B.4
District of Columbia 5.NF.B.4
Florida MA.5.FR.2.2
Georgia 5.NR.3.4
Hawaii 5.NF.B.4
Idaho 5.NF.B.4.a
Illinois 5.NF.B.4
Indiana 5.CA.5
Iowa 5.NF.B.4.a
Kansas 5.NF.4.a
Kentucky KY.5.NF.4.a
Louisiana 5.NF.B.4.a, 5.NF.B.4.b, 5.NF.B.4.c
Maine 5.NF.B.4a
Maryland 5.NOS.D.11.b, 5.NOS.D.12.b, 5.NOS.D.13.b
Massachusetts 5.NF.B.4.a
Michigan 5.NF.B.4
Mississippi 5.NF.4.a
Missouri 5.NF.B.7.b, 5.NF.B.7.c
Montana MT.5.NF.4.a, 5.D2.3, 5.D3.2, 5.D4.2, 5.D4.5
Nebraska 5.N.3.b
Nevada 5.NF.B.4
New Hampshire 5.NF.B.4
New Jersey 5.NF.B.4a
New Mexico 5.NF.B.4
New York NY-5.NF.4.a
North Carolina NC.5.NF.4.a
Ohio 5.NF.4.a
Oregon 5.NF.B.4
Pennsylvania CC.2.1.5.C.2
Rhode Island 5.NF.B.4.a
South Carolina 5.PAFR.2.2
South Dakota 5.NF.B.4.a
Tennessee 5.NF.B.4.a
Texas 111.7.b.3.I
Utah 5.NF.4.a
Vermont 5.NF.B.4
Washington 5.NF.B.4
West Virginia M.5.14
Wisconsin M.5.NF.B.4

A fraction of a fraction