Write and solve a real-world problem for 1/2 divided by 3. Then explain the meaning of the quotient

Question

Write a problem that could happen in real life using the numbers 1/2 and 3 You have to divide. The you have to explain what the quotient means.

Answer 1

Suppose three friends want to equally divide up 1/2 of a pizza for lunch. What fraction of the whole pizza does each person get?

Answer: Each person gets (1/2) ÷ 3 = ____ of a pizza

Answer 2

Hi Dayanna,

Let's take a look at your question:

Write a problem that could happen in real life using the numbers 1/2 and 3 You have to divide. The you have to explain what the quotient means.

I don't want to give away the answer directly, so I'm going to walk you through solving a similar question with different numbers.

Write and solve a real-world problem for 3/4 divided by 4. Then explain the meaning of the quotient.

One way to think of division is sharing something equally. So what might you share equally?

In this problem whatever we share equally has to be a part, not a whole. What are some things that we usually think of as parts? Well, we talk about food in parts. It might be 3/4 of a pizza or 3/4 of a pan of brownies. We also measure some types of food in parts of a pound, particularly bulk foods or sweets. There are materials we buy in parts of a whole, like lengths of ribbon, rope, or fabric which might be purchased as parts of a yard. Your word problem could include dividing any of those things up into equal parts. Here are two examples:

Dayanna and three friends bought a 3/4 lb bag of candy at the grocery store. If they want to share it equally, how much candy will each person get?

3/4 ÷ 4

3/4 × 1/4 = 3/16

The quotient is 3/16. It means that each person will get 3/16 lb of candy.

Dayanna has a board that is 3/4 yd. long. If she saws it into four equal pieces, how long will each piece be?

3/4 ÷ 4

3/4 × 1/4 = 3/16

The quotient is 3/16. It means that the length of each piece of board will be 3/16 yd. after Dayanna cuts it.

*Note that the meaning of the quotient changes depending on the word problem.

To solve your problem follow these steps:

1) Think about what real-world items we use as parts of a whole.

2) Write a word problem where that item is shared or split up equally.

3) When you have completed your fraction division, tell your reader what the answer, or quotient, means.

Good luck!