Math Skill: Basic Fraction Word Problems
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Basic Fraction Word Problems


This topic assumes you know fraction simplification and basic fraction addition and subtraction.
To review, please see the topics Fraction Simplification, Basic Fraction Addition, and Basic Fraction Subtraction.


Example 1: Addition
Solve. Give the answer in simplest form.

Jerry finished 1/8 of his model airplane project in the morning and 3/8 of the project in the evening. What part of the project did he finish altogether?  

The word altogether in the question implies addition.
  1
8		 + 3
8		   =   4
8
  4
8		 simplifies to 1
2


Example 2: Subtraction
Solve. Give the answer in simplest form.

In a classroom of 10 students, 3 of the students are boys and the rest are girls. What fraction of the students are girls?  

Since you know the total and the amount in one of the two groups, this implies subtraction.
  # girls
total # students		   =   total # students - # boys
total # students		   =   10 - 3
10		   =   7
10

Complexity=1, Mode=add

Solve. Give the answer in simplest form.
1.   A cake is cut into 4 slices. If Julia ate 1 slice and her dad ate 2 slices, what part of the cake did they eat?
2.   Jasmine weeded 3/5 of her garden in the morning and 1/5 of the garden in the afternoon. What part of the garden did she weed altogether?

Complexity=1, Mode=sub

Solve. Give the answer in simplest form.
1.   A bowl holds 6 beads. If Tiffany takes 4 beads from the bowl, what fraction of the beads is left in the bowl?
2.   Seema and Nina made a pan of brownies. If Seema ate 1/3 of the brownies and Nina ate 2/3 of the brownies. How much more of the brownies did Nina eat than Seema?

Complexity=1

Solve. Give the answer in simplest form.
1.   A jar holds 12 buttons. If Danny takes 3 buttons from the jar, what fraction of the buttons is left in the jar?
2.   Antonio cleaned 2/3 of his house in the morning and 1/3 of the house in the afternoon. What part of the house did he clean altogether?

Answers

Complexity=1, Mode=add

Solve. Give the answer in simplest form.
#ProblemCorrect AnswerYour Answer
1A cake is cut into 4 slices. If Julia ate 1 slice and her dad ate 2 slices, what part of the cake did they eat?
Solution
The question is
    What part of the cake did they eat?
Which operation should you use?
    The question implies addition.
Equation
 
# slices eaten
total # of slices		   =   1 + 2
4		   =  
3
4
Alternate equation
 
1
4		 + 2
4		   =  
3
4
#ProblemCorrect AnswerYour Answer
2Jasmine weeded 3/5 of her garden in the morning and 1/5 of the garden in the afternoon. What part of the garden did she weed altogether?
Solution
The question is
    What part of the garden did she weed altogether?
Which operation should you use?
    The key word altogether implies addition.
Equation
3
5
+
1
5
=
4
5

Complexity=1, Mode=sub

Solve. Give the answer in simplest form.
#ProblemCorrect AnswerYour Answer
1A bowl holds 6 beads. If Tiffany takes 4 beads from the bowl, what fraction of the beads is left in the bowl?
Solution
The question is
    What fraction of the beads is left?
Which operation should you use?
    The keyword left implies subtraction.
Equation
  # items left
total # of items		   =   total # of items - # items taken
total # of items		   =   6 beads - 4 beads
6 beads		   =  
2
6
Alternate equation
  1  −  4
6		   =   6
6		  −  4
6		   =  
2
6

Simplify the answer.
2
6
=
1
3
#ProblemCorrect AnswerYour Answer
2Seema and Nina made a pan of brownies. If Seema ate 1/3 of the brownies and Nina ate 2/3 of the brownies. How much more of the brownies did Nina eat than Seema?
Solution
The question is
    How much more of the brownies did Nina eat?
Which operation should you use?
    The phrase how much more implies subtraction.
Equation
 
2
3
−
1
3
  =  
1
3

Complexity=1

Solve. Give the answer in simplest form.
#ProblemCorrect AnswerYour Answer
1A jar holds 12 buttons. If Danny takes 3 buttons from the jar, what fraction of the buttons is left in the jar?
Solution
The question is
    What fraction of the buttons is left?
Which operation should you use?
    The keyword left implies subtraction.
Equation
  # items left
total # of items		   =   total # of items - # items taken
total # of items		   =   12 buttons - 3 buttons
12 buttons		   =  
9
12
Alternate equation
  1  −  3
12		   =   12
12		  −  3
12		   =  
9
12

Simplify the answer.
9
12
=
3
4
#ProblemCorrect AnswerYour Answer
2Antonio cleaned 2/3 of his house in the morning and 1/3 of the house in the afternoon. What part of the house did he clean altogether?
Solution
The question is
    What part of the house did he clean altogether?
Which operation should you use?
    The key word altogether implies addition.
Equation
2
3
+
1
3
=
3
3

Simplify the answer.
3
3
= 1
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