Fractions Worksheets

Welcome to the fractions worksheets page at Math-Drills.com where the cup is half full! This is one of our more popular pages most likely because learning fractions is incredibly important in a person's life and it is a math topic that many approach with trepidation due to its bad rap over the years. Fractions really aren't that difficult to master especially with the support of our wide selection of worksheets.

This page includes Fractions worksheets for understanding fractions including modeling, comparing, ordering, simplifying and converting fractions and operations with fractions. We start you off with the obvious: modeling fractions. It is a great idea if students can actually understand what a fraction is, so please do spend some time with the modeling aspect. Relating modeling to real life helps a great deal too as it is much easier to relate to half a cookie than to half a square. Ask most students what you get if you add half a cookie and another half a cookie, and they'll probably let you know that it makes one delicious snack.

The other fractions worksheets on this page are devoted to helping students understand the concept of fractions. From comparing and ordering to simplifying and converting. by the time students master the material on this page, operations of fractions will be a walk in the park.

Most Popular Fractions Worksheets this Week

Fraction Circles

• Fraction circle manipulatives are mainly used for comparing fractions, but they can be used for a variety of other purposes such as representing and identifying fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, and as probability spinners. There are a variety of options depending on your purpose. Fraction circles come in small and large versions, labeled and unlabeled versions and in three different color schemes: black and white, color, and light gray. The color scheme matches the fraction strips and use colors that are meant to show good contrast among themselves. Do note that there is a significant prevalence of color-blindness in the population, so don't rely on all students being able to differentiate the colors.
• Suggested activity for comparing fractions: Photocopy the black and white version onto an overhead projection slide and another copy onto a piece of paper. Alternatively, you can use two pieces of paper and hold them up to the light for this activity. Use a pencil to represent the first fraction on the paper copy. Use a non-permanent overhead pen to represent the second fraction. Lay the slide over the paper and compare the two circles. You should easily be able to tell which is greater or lesser or if the two fractions are equal. Re-use both sheets by erasing the pencil and washing off the marker.
• Adding fractions with fraction circles will involve two copies on paper. Cut out the fraction circles and segments of one copy and leave the other copy intact. To add 1/3 + 1/2, for example, place a 1/3 segment and a 1/2 segment into a circle and hold it over various fractions on the intact copy to see what 1/2 + 1/3 is equivalent to. 5/6 or 10/12 should work.
• Small Fraction Circles

Fraction Strips

• Fractions strips are often used for comparing fractions. Students are able to see quite easily the relationships and equivalence between fractions with different denominators. It can be quite useful for students to have two copies: one copy cut into strips and the other copy kept intact. They can then use the cut-out strips on the intact page to individually compare fractions. For example, they can use the halves strip to see what other fractions are equivalent to one-half. This can also be accomplished with a straight edge such as a ruler without cutting out any strips. Pairs or groups of strips can also be compared side-by-side if they are cut out. Addition and subtraction (etc.) are also possibilities; for example, adding a one-quarter and one-third can be accomplished by shifting the thirds strip so that it starts at the end of one-quarter then finding a strip that matches the end of the one-third mark (7/12 should do it).
• Teachers might consider copying the fraction strips onto overhead projection acetates for whole class or group activities. Acetate versions are also useful as a hands-on manipulative for students in conjunction with an uncut page.
• The "Smart" Fraction Strips include strips in a more useful order, eliminate the 7ths and 11ths strips as they don't have any equivalents and include 15ths and 16ths. The colors are consistent with the classic versions, so the two sets can be combined.
• Classic Fraction Strips with Labels

Modeling fractions

• Fractions can represent parts of a group or parts of a whole. In these worksheets, fractions are modeled as parts of a group. Besides using the worksheets in this section, you can also try some more interesting ways of modeling fractions. Healthy snacks can make great models for fractions. Can you cut a cucumber into thirds? A tomato into quarters? Can you make two-thirds of the grapes red and one-third green?
• Modeling Fractions with Groups of Shapes

Ratio and Proportion Worksheets

• The equivalent fractions models worksheets include only the "baking fractions" in the A versions. To see more difficult and varied fractions, please choose the B to J versions after loading the A version. More picture ratios can be found on holiday and seasonal pages. Try searching for picture ratios to find more.
• Picture Ratios

Comparing and Ordering Fractions

• Comparing fractions involves deciding which of two fractions is greater in value or if the two fractions are equal in value. There are generally four methods that can be used for comparing fractions. First is to use common denominators. If both fractions have the same denominator, comparing the fractions simply involves comparing the numerators. Equivalent fractions can be used to convert one or both fractions, so they have common denominators. A second method is to convert both fractions to a decimal and compare the decimal numbers. Visualization is the third method. Using something like fraction strips, two fractions can be compared with a visual tool. The fourth method is to use a cross-multiplication strategy where the numerator of the first fraction is multiplied by the denominator of the second fraction; then the numerator of the second fraction is multiplied by the denominator of the first fraction. The resulting products can be compared to decide which fraction is greater (or if they are equal).
• Comparing Proper Fractions

Simplifying & Converting Fractions Worksheets

• Rounding fractions helps students to understand fractions a little better and can be applied to estimating answers to fractions questions. For example, if one had to estimate 1 4/7 × 6, they could probably say the answer was about 9 since 1 4/7 is about 1 1/2 and 1 1/2 × 6 is 9.
• Rounding Fractions with Helper Lines

Multiplying Fractions

• Multiplying fractions is usually less confusing operationally than any other operation and can be less confusing conceptually if approached in the right way. The algorithm for multiplying is simply multiply the numerators then multiply the denominators. The magic word in understanding the multiplication of fractions is, "of." For example what is two-thirds OF six? What is a third OF a half? When you use the word, "of," it gets much easier to visualize fractions multiplication. Example: cut a loaf of bread in half, then cut the half into thirds. One third OF a half loaf of bread is the same as 1/3 x 1/2 and tastes delicious with butter.
• Multiplying Two Proper Fraction

Dividing Fractions

• Conceptually, dividing fractions is probably the most difficult of all the operations, but we're going to help you out. The algorithm for dividing fractions is just like multiplying fractions, but you find the inverse of the second fraction or you cross-multiply. This gets you the right answer which is extremely important especially if you're building a bridge. We told you how to conceptualize fraction multiplication, but how does it work with division? Easy! You just need to learn the magic phrase: "How many ____'s are there in ______? For example, in the question 6 ÷ 1/2, you would ask, "How many halves are there in 6?" It becomes a little more difficult when both numbers are fractions, but it isn't a giant leap to figure it out. 1/2 ÷ 1/4 is a fairly easy example, especially if you think in terms of U.S. or Canadian coins. How many quarters are there in a half dollar?
• Dividing Two Proper Fractions

Multiplying and Dividing Fractions

• This section includes worksheets with both multiplication and division mixed on each worksheet. Students will have to pay attention to the signs.
• Multiplying and Dividing Two Proper Fractions

Adding Fractions

• Adding fractions requires the annoying common denominator. Make it easy on your students by first teaching the concepts of equivalent fractions and least common multiples. Once students are familiar with those two concepts, the idea of finding fractions with common denominators for adding becomes that much easier. Spending time on modeling fractions will also help students to understand fractions addition. Relating fractions to familiar examples will certainly help. For example, if you add a 1/2 banana and a 1/2 banana, you get a whole banana. What happens if you add a 1/2 banana and 3/4 of another banana?
• Adding Two Proper Fractions with Equal Denominators and Proper Fraction Results

Subtracting Fractions

• There isn't a lot of difference between adding and subtracting fractions. Both require a common denominator which requires some prerequisite knowledge. The only difference is the second and subsequent numerators are subtracted from the first one. There is a danger that you might end up with a negative number when subtracting fractions, so students might need to learn what it means in that case. When it comes to any concept in fractions, it is always a good idea to relate it to a familiar or easy-to-understand situation. For example, 7/8 - 3/4 = 1/8 could be given meaning in the context of a race. The first runner was 7/8 around the track when the second runner was 3/4 around the track. How far ahead was the first runner? (1/8 of the track).
• Subtracting Two Proper Fractions with Equal Denominators and Proper Fraction Results

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

• Mixing up the signs on operations with fractions worksheets makes students pay more attention to what they are doing and allows for a good test of their skills in more than one operation.
• Adding and Subtracting Proper and Improper Fractions

All Operations Fractions Worksheets

• All Operations with Two Proper Fractions with Equal Denominators and Proper Fraction Results