How to Write a Fraction as Unit Fractions
Every fraction is made of unit fractions, like 1/4 or 1/8.
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How to do it
- Find the unit fraction, which has a 1 on top.
- Count how many unit pieces the fraction has.
- Write the fraction as that number times the unit fraction.
Teaching tip
Have your child count the pieces out loud: one fourth, two fourths, three fourths, and so on. This sheet is aligned with Common Core 4.NF.B.4.
About this chart
5/4 and 3/8 shown with fraction strips and written as sums of unit fractions and as 5 × 1/4 and 3 × 1/8.
What kids practice
Fourth graders learn that a fraction like 5/4 is five copies of the unit fraction 1/4, so 5/4 = 5 × 1/4. Then they multiply a fraction by a whole number, like 3 × 2/5. Three groups of 2/5 is 2/5 + 2/5 + 2/5, which is 6/5. The shortcut is to multiply the top number and keep the bottom number, then change the answer to a mixed number when it is more than 1.
Watch for
- Multiplying both the top and the bottom number, like 3 × 2/5 = 6/15.
- Forgetting to change an answer like 6/5 to the mixed number 1 1/5 when asked.
- Mixing up which number in a story is the whole number and which is the fraction.
- Drawing the wrong number of groups on a picture or number line.
It's free to print, as many copies as you need. See the full multiplying a fraction by a whole number guide for 4th grade.
More sheets in this set
2. Fractions as Unit FractionsFractions like 7/8 to write as 7 × 1/8, with strips on Fewer and Standard. Standard includes fractions more than 1, and More also goes the other way, like 4 × 1/5 = 4/5.- See it all
3. How to Multiply a Fraction by a Whole Number3 × 2/5 shown as three groups of 2/5 with strips, as 2/5 + 2/5 + 2/5, with the multiply-the-top shortcut, and as jumps on a number line. 
4. Repeated Addition to MultiplicationSums like 2/5 + 2/5 + 2/5 to write as 3 × 2/5 and solve on graph paper. More adds up to five of the same fraction.
5. Multiply with Fraction StripsOne strip for each group to shade, like three strips of 2/3, then the product. More has up to four groups.
6. Multiply a Fraction by a Whole NumberProblems like 4 × 3/8 on graph paper with the × in a yellow square. Standard uses whole numbers to 9, and More also asks for each answer as a mixed number.
7. Jumps on a Number LineNumber lines cut into fourths, fifths, sixths and more to draw jumps like 3 jumps of 2/5. Fewer shows the jumps already drawn.
8. Fraction Times Whole Number Word ProblemsStories about running, pizza, flour, ribbon and water. More also asks which two whole numbers the answer is between.