Make It a Fraction First

Mathematics 6 · Term 1 · Week 7
Name: Section: Date:
Teacher: one page per learner, printed A4. Sections A, B and C count toward Written Works; see assessment.md §1. The rectangles in §A are drawn to true proportion, so a learner who cuts them correctly can see which pieces are large before computing anything. The answer key at the foot of this page is screen-only and will not appear on the printout.

A Cut each rectangle into four — then label every piece and total them

1. 1½ × 2¼
← 1½ wide →
height 2¼
total =
2. 2⅓ × 1½
← 2⅓ wide →
height 1½
total =

B Convert — fill in whichever side is empty

Mixed numberImproper fraction
17/5
17/6
1⅞

C Multiply — show the improper form, then the simplest form

ProblemAs fractionsSimplest form
2½ × 1⅓
1½ × ⅔
4 × 1¾
2¼ × 1⅕
1⅔ × 2⅖

D Estimate, then compute

  1. 3⅞ × 2⅛
    estimate exact
  2. 4⅓ × 1¾
    estimate exact

E True or false?

  1. 2½ × 1⅓ = 2⅙
  2. Every mixed number can be written as an improper fraction.
  3. To multiply mixed numbers, multiply the wholes and the parts separately.
  4. 3 = 3/1

The challenge

? × ? = 4
  1. Find two different pairs of mixed numbers whose product is exactly 4. Show the improper form that proves it.
  2. In one sentence, explain why 2½ × 1⅓ is not 2⅙.
Answer key — screen only, not printed.
A1 · 1½ × 2¼ → pieces 1×2 = 2, ½×2 = 1, 1×¼ = ¼, ½×¼ =  ·  total 3⅜  (3/2 × 9/4 = 27/8)
A2 · 2⅓ × 1½ → pieces 2×1 = 2, ⅓×1 = , 2×½ = 1, ⅓×½ =  ·  total  (7/3 × 3/2 = 21/6)
B · 11/4 · 3⅖ · 2⅚ · 23/4 · 15/8  |  C · 5/2×4/3 = 20/6 → 3⅓ · 3/2×2/3 = 6/6 → 1 · 4/1×7/4 = 28/4 → 7 · 9/4×6/5 = 54/20 → 2 7/10 · 5/3×12/5 = 60/15 → 4
D · 1. estimate 4 × 2 = 8, exact 8 15/64 · 2. estimate 4 × 2 = 8, exact 7 7/12  |  E · false · true · false · true
· 1. any two of 2½×1⅗, 1½×2⅔, 3⅓×1⅕, 2⅖×1⅔ · 2. any wording carrying "it leaves out two of the four pieces".
Item ★2 is the diagnostic. A learner can complete everything above it by rule and still believe the part-by-part method works. Read the sentences first.
Watch D2. The estimate is 8 but the exact answer is 7 7/12 — below the estimate, because both factors rounded up. A learner who "corrects" their exact answer to match the estimate has misunderstood what an estimate is for. Watch for erasers.