Free fraction videos online
Find here free online math videos on these fraction topics:
- Simplifying fractions
- Multiply fractions by whole numbers
- Multiply fractions by fractions
- Simplifying before multiplying
- Multiplying mixed numbers
- Fraction multiplication and area
- Divide fractions: sharing divisions
- Divide fractions: fitting the divisor
- How to divide fractions & reciprocal numbers
- Fractional part of a group
- Ratios and fractions
- How to convert fractions into decimals
- Divide fractions: an alternative algorithm
(Fraction videos, part 1, are on this page.) The videos are recorded in high-density (HD) and are viewable both here as well as at my Youtube channel.
These videos are usable for students, teachers, and parents. You can use them...
- To learn these topics yourself (if you're a student for example, or an adult needing a refresher)
- As lesson plans for teaching these topics. Often, one video from below can be made into several lessons with students.
The videos match the lessons in my book Math Mammoth Fractions 2 (Blue Series book), or the lessons in chapter 6 of Grade 5-B (Light Blue series). In either book, you will get MANY more practice exercises, word problems, and puzzles than what are shown in the videos, and also some lessons that are not in covered in this set of videos.
 119 pages (includes answers) PDF download $5.75 Printed copy $10.20 |
Math Mammoth Fractions 2 worktext
A self-teaching worktext that focuses on simplication, multiplication, and division of fractions & mixed numbers, among other topics. Free sample pages (PDF) |
Simplifying fractions 
First I show the simplification process using visual models and an arrow notation to help students understand the concept. Simplifying fractions is like joining or merging fractional pieces together, such as in 4/12, we merge each 4 pieces so we get 1/3.
I show how we can simplify a fraction in several steps, instead in one step. If you simplify in one step, you need to use the greatest common factor of the numerator and denominator, but this is not necessary if you simplify in several steps.
Sometimes you cannot simplify. Lastly we explore if the given fractions are already in their lowest terms.
Multiply fractions by whole numbers
Multiplying fractions by whole numbers is a fairly easy concept. Students just need to remember that 4 × (2/3) is not calculated as (4 × 2) / (4 × 3). In the visual model, you can color two thirds, four times, to get the answer. Doubling or tripling recipes is a nice application of this concept.
I also show an interesting connection between (1/3) × 5 or one-third of five pies, and 5 × (1/3), or five copies of 1/3.
Practice this online: multiply fractions by whole numbers
Multiply fractions by fractions
I start out by explaining that (1/2) × (1/3) means 1/2 of 1/3, and we find that visually. Similarly, (1/3) × (1/4) means 1/3 of 1/4. From this we get a shortcut that (1/m) × (1/n) = (1/mn).
Next, we find what is 2/3 of 1/4. First, we find 1/3 of 1/4 as being 1/12. Therefore, 2/3 has to be double that much, or 2/12.
After introducing the shortcut for fraction multiplication (multiply the numerators, multiply the denominators), I solve a few simple multiplication problems and a word problem.
Lastly, I justify the common rule for fraction division (sort of a "proof" for fifth grade level).
Practice this online: multiply fractions by fractions
Simplifying before multiplying - fraction multiplication
I explain how we can simplify before we multiply fractions, and also why we are allowed to do so.
Multiplying mixed numbers
Multiplying mixed numbers is easy: simply convert them to fractions first, then multiply using the shortcut (rule) for fraction multiplication.
The difficulty comes in remembering to change them to fractions!
Some students have misconception that you can multiply the whole-number parts and the fractional parts separately, such as (1 1/2) × (1 1/2) = 1 1/4. I show with an area model why that is wrong.
Lastly, I solve a word problem involving area of a rectangle and a square.
Practice this online: multiply mixed numbers by mixed numbers
Fraction multiplication and area
I explain how fraction multiplication and area of rectangles relate to each other. Basically, if the sides of the rectangle are fractional parts of a unit, then we solve the area by multiplying the fractions (of course). And, the visual model provides a neat illustration of fraction multiplication.Sharing divisions
In this video, the problems are such that the divisor is a whole number. We can solve these by thinking of equal sharing. For example, 6/8 divided by 3 can be framed as: "There is 6/8 of a pizza left, and three people share it evenly. How much does each one get?"
Now, 6/8 means six slices. So, each person gets two slices. Those slices are eighths, which means each person gets 2/8 (of the entire pizza).
After looking at those, we then divide unit fractions by a whole number. For example, we look visually at (1/2) ÷ 4. Half of a pie is divided into four further pieces. Each of these pieces is an eighth, so 1/2 divided by 4 is 1/8.
Fitting the divisor
In this lesson, we solve divisions such as 2 divided by 1/4 by thinking how many times the divisor fits into the dividend. In this case, how many times does 1/4 fit into 2? Or, how many fourths are in 2 whole pies? The answer is eight.
We look at a variety of such questions, relying on visual models. Solving these types of division problems also leads us to notice that division problems seem to be related to MULTIPLICATION. And that is indeed the case: the shortcut for fraction division (not taught here) has to do with changing a division problem into a multiplication.
This video addresses the standard 5.NF.B.7: divide whole numbers by unit fractions.
How to divide fractions & reciprocal numbers
I explain what reciprocal numbers are, including a visual interpretation for them. Then we study the rule for fraction division: To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal.
Lastly, I explain why this rule works, based on reciprocal numbers and on interpreting division as "how many times does the divisor fit into the divi
Fractional part of a group
This is sort of a "lesson plan" for finding a fractional part of a group of objects, or a fractional part of a number.
Basically, 1/3 of 18 is a division problem 18 divided by 3. (To find a fractional part of a number when the fraction is of the form 1/n, just divide by n.)
And to find 5/11 of 44, first find 1/11 of 44, which is 44 divided by 11 = 4. Then, multiply that times 5.
Ratios and fractions
A ratio is a comparison of two numbers (or quantities) using division. For example, if I have 4 hearts and 3 stars, then the ratio of hearts to stars is 4:3 (four to three).
We can often "translate" between ratio language and fraction language.
Lastly I work several word problems that involve ratios and fractions, using a bar (or block) model, a powerful visual aid that helps students from grade 4 onward solve problems that would otherwise require algebra.
How to convert fractions into decimals
Some fractions we can convert first to equivalent fractions with a denominator 10, 100, 1000 etc. and then from those, into decimals. But most often, to convert a fraction into a decimal, we need to divide (long division or calculator).
For example, to convert 5/7 into a decimal, divide 5 by 7.
Sometimes, in such a division, the decimal ends. More often though, it is a nonending repeating decimal. We see that when in our long division the same remainders keep coming up in the same order.
Such decimals repeat part of their decimal digits, such as 0.13131313.... or 0.83567567567567... (567 repeats)
You might ask if decimals that don't repeat exist. Yes, they do. They are irrational numbers, meaning they are NOT fractions (not rational numbers), and they are quite a fascinating topic in themselves.
Divide fractions: an alternative algorithm
In this alternative algorithm for fraction division we first convert the two fractions to have the same denominator (like fractions). Then, we simply divide the numerators, so it becomes a whole-number division. I also show a proof of this method.
See also free fraction videos, part 1: mixed numbers, equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting fractions & mixed numbers.
The videos match the lessons in my book Math Mammoth Fractions 2 (Blue Series book), or the lessons in chapter 7 of Grade 5-B (Light Blue series). In either book, you will get MANY more practice exercises, word problems, and puzzles than what are shown in the videos, and also some lessons that are not in covered in this set of videos.
|
119 pages (includes answers) PDF download $5.75 Printed copy $10.20 |
Math Mammoth Fractions 2 worktext
A self-teaching worktext that focuses on simplication, multiplication, and division of fractions & mixed numbers, among other topics. Free sample pages (PDF) |
By Maria Miller
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