Fraction Word Problems – From Simple to Challenging
Word problems are where fractions come to life. They require you to read a situation carefully, choose the right operation, and carry out the calculation. This page walks through many types of fraction word problems from easy to challenging.
A Strategy for Every Word Problem
- Read the problem twice and identify what is given and what you must find.
- Decide which operation is needed: addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.
- Write the calculation using fractions.
- Solve and simplify your answer.
- Write the answer with the correct unit and check that it makes sense.
Type 1 – Addition Problems
Tom ate 2/8 of a pizza and his sister ate 3/8. How much pizza did they eat in total? 2/8 + 3/8 = 5/8. They ate 5/8 of the pizza.
A gardener planted flowers in 1/3 of a plot on Monday and 2/5 of the plot on Tuesday. How much of the plot has been planted? LCM(3,5)=15. 5/15 + 6/15 = 11/15. 11/15 of the plot is planted.
Type 2 – Subtraction Problems
A bottle was 7/8 full of juice. After breakfast, 3/8 was used. How much juice remains? 7/8 - 3/8 = 4/8 = 1/2. 1/2 of the bottle remains.
A plank is 5 and 1/4 m long. A carpenter cuts off 2 and 3/4 m. How long is the piece that remains? 21/4 - 11/4 = 10/4 = 5/2 = 2 and 1/2 m.
Type 3 – Multiplication Problems
A recipe uses 3/4 cup of sugar. You want to make half the recipe. How much sugar do you need? 3/4 times 1/2 = 3/8. You need 3/8 of a cup.
A field is 3 and 1/2 km long and 2/3 km wide. What is its area? 7/2 times 2/3 = 14/6 = 7/3 = 2 and 1/3 square km.
A factory makes 240 cars in a day. 3/8 of them are red. How many red cars are made? 3/8 times 240 = 720/8 = 90 red cars.
Type 4 – Division Problems
A 3/4 m ribbon is cut into pieces each 1/8 m long. How many pieces are there? 3/4 divided by 1/8 = 3/4 times 8 = 6. 6 pieces.
A tank holds 5 and 1/4 litres of paint. Each tin holds 3/4 litre. How many tins can be filled? 21/4 divided by 3/4 = 21/4 times 4/3 = 84/12 = 7. 7 tins.
Type 5 – Multi-Step Problems
Mia had 2 and 1/2 m of fabric. She used 3/4 m for a cushion and 2/3 m for a bag. How much fabric does she have left?
Step 1: Add fabric used: 3/4 + 2/3. LCM=12: 9/12 + 8/12 = 17/12.
Step 2: 2 and 1/2 - 17/12 = 5/2 - 17/12 = 30/12 - 17/12 = 13/12 = 1 and 1/12 m remaining.
A school bought 3/5 of its supplies on Monday and 1/4 on Wednesday. What fraction is still to be bought?
3/5 + 1/4 = 12/20 + 5/20 = 17/20. Remaining: 1 - 17/20 = 3/20.
Key Takeaways
- Read carefully: the word "of" usually means multiply; "shared equally" means divide; "total" or "altogether" means add; "left over" or "difference" means subtract.
- Always write the calculation before starting to solve.
- Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions for multiplication and division.
- Check your answer against the story — does the size make sense?
Practice Questions
- Anna read 2/5 of a book on Saturday and 1/4 on Sunday. What fraction has she read in total?
- A water tank was 7/10 full. After watering the garden, it was 2/5 full. How much water was used?
- A baker uses 2 and 1/3 cups of flour per loaf. How much flour is needed for 6 loaves?
- A 4 and 1/2 kg bag of rice is shared equally among 6 people. How much does each person get?
- Emma spent 1/4 of her money on books and 3/8 on clothes. What fraction of her money does she have left?
Related Topics
Now that you have completed the Fractions learning path, you are ready to explore more. Continue your journey with Grade 1 topics or revisit any earlier topic using the navigation below.