Idea 10of 22Builds onSometimes the pieces make whole numbers
4 ÷ 1/3: how many thirds fit in 4?
What question does 4 ÷ 1/3 ask?
Today you'll discover
- what dividing by a unit fraction asks
- how to cut wholes and count the pieces
- why the answer is 12
Think first4 wholes, and a piece one third long
4 ÷ 1/3 asks: how many thirds fit in 4 wholes? What do you think?
Decide first, then press Next. Count the small pieces, not the bars.
Four bars, each labelled 1 whole, with a single tinted piece one third as long set apart underneath. Then each bar is cut into thirds and the thirds are numbered 1 to 12 across all four bars. Then the sentence 4 ÷ 1/3 = 12. The last step shows 2 wholes and a piece one fifth long.
See the whole ideathe big idea and the key word, in one place
The big idea
4 ÷ 1/3 asks how many thirds fit in 4 wholes. The answer is 12.
Like whole numbers12 ÷ 3 asks how many 3s fit in 12: 4. In the same way, 4 ÷ 1/3 asks how many thirds fit in 4: 12.
Key word
- quotient
- the answer to a division; in 4 ÷ 1/3 = 12, the quotient is 12
Ready to use it?
- Find how many unit fractions fit in a whole number.
- Write it as a division.