Multiplying Fractions with

s
m&m
Objective: Students will use m&ms to create visual models of word problems involving fraction
multiplication. Students will be able to use the models to recognize the relationship between factors
and the product of fraction multiplication problems.

Math Common Core Standards:

5.NF.4 Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction or whole
number by a fraction.
a. Interpret the product (a/b) x q as a parts of a partition of q into b equal parts; equivalently, as the
result of a sequence of operations a x q b. For example, use a visual fraction model to show (2/3) x
4 = 8/3, and create a story context for this equation. Do the same with (2/3) x (4/5) = 8/15. (In general,
(a/b) x (c/d) = ac/bd.)
5.NF.5 Interpret multiplication as scaling (resizing), by:
a. Comparing the size of a product to the size of one factor on the basis of the size of the other
factor, without performing the indicated multiplication.
b. Explaining why multiplying a given number by a fraction greater than 1 results in a product
greater than the given number (recognizing multiplication by whole numbers greater than 1 as a
familiar case); explaining why multiplying a given number by a fraction less than 1 results in a
product smaller than the given number; and relating the principle of fraction equivalence a/b = (n
x a)/(n x b) to the effect of multiplying a/b by 1.
5.NF.6 Solve real world problems involving multiplication of fractions and mixed numbers, e.g., by
using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem.

Name:
m&ms Word Problems
Date:
Directions: Use the your m&ms to create three word problems involving fraction multiplication based on the example.
Using color draw a picture to represent your problem in the solution box.
! !
1.
2.
3.

Solution:

Solution:

Solution:

1. Emily has 16 m&ms. If 3/4 of her m&ms

are red, how many red m&ms does Emily
have?

2. Isaiah has 6 m&ms. If 2/3 of his m&ms

are blue, how many blue m&ms does
Isaiah have?

3. Makayla has 12 m&ms. If 8/24 of her

m&ms are yellow, how many yellow
m&ms does Makayla have?

4. Jackson has 20 m&ms. If 2/5 of his

m&ms are brown, how many brown
m&ms does Jackson have?

5. 3 m&ms equal 1 set. Natalie has 31/3 sets of m&ms. How many m&ms
does Natalie have?

7. 7 m&ms equal 1 set. Marcellus has

1- 3/7 sets of m&ms. If 1/5 of his
m&ms are orange, how many orange
m&ms does he have?
!!

6. 3 m&ms equal 1 set. Natalie has 31/3 sets of m&ms. If 1/2 of Natalies
m&ms are green, how many SETS of
green m&ms does she have?

8. 20 m&ms equal 1 set. Bryan has 1/5

of a set of brown m&ms and he has
3/10 of a set of red m&ms. How many
brown m&ms does he have? How
many red m&ms does he have?

9. Chase has 1/4 as many yellow

m&ms as he has red m&ms. How
many red m&ms does he have?

11. Noah has 2 m&ms. Hunt wants to

have 2-1/2 as many m&ms as Noah.
How many m&ms does Hunt want to
have?

10. Hannah has 2 green m&ms.

Hannahs number of green m&ms is
1/5 of the total number of m&ms she
has. How many m&ms does Hannah
have?

12. Thuy has 8 m&ms. Parker wants to

have 3/12 as many m&ms as Thuy.
How many m&ms does Parker want to
have?

13. Kennedy has 6 m&ms. Jaydrien

wants to have 1/3 as many m&ms as
Kennedy. Without solving the equation
explain whether Jaydrien wants to have
either more or less m&ms than
Kennedy.

15. 3 m&ms equal 1 set. Bryan has 22/3 sets of m&ms. Jacob has 1/2 as
many m&ms as Byan. Without solving
the equation explain who has more
m&ms.

14. Wisdom has 20 m&ms. Aidan has

2- 3/4 as many m&ms as Wisdom.
Without solving the equation explain
who has more m&ms.

15. All together Samantha, Alexandria,

Mary Lee, and Alex have 50 m&ms.
Samantha has 1/5 of the m&ms,
Alexandria has 1/10 of the m&ms, and
Mary Lee has 2/5 of the m&ms. How
many m&ms does each person have?

Multiplying Fractions with m&ms Answer Sheet

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