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Auralith Learning

Year 8 · Maths · Multiplying and dividing fractions · Lesson 3

Mixed numbers

Learn to change between mixed numbers and improper fractions, then multiply and divide mixed numbers, with measuring, cooking and area problems.

Whiteboard video lesson: Mixed numbers

42-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Change a mixed number into an improper fraction
  • Change an improper fraction into a mixed number
  • Multiply mixed numbers
  • Divide mixed numbers
  • Solve problems with mixed numbers

The method

  1. Change mixed numbers into improper fractions.
  2. Multiply, or use keep, change, flip to divide.
  3. Simplify.
  4. Change the answer back to a mixed number.

Key words: mixed number, improper fraction, top heavy, reciprocal, simplify.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

Write 11/2 as an improper fraction.

  1. Step 1: Whole × bottom: 1 × 2 = 2
  2. Step 2: Add the top: 2 + 1 = 3
  3. Step 3: Keep the bottom: 3/2

Answer: 3/2

Question 2

Write 21/3 as an improper fraction.

  1. Step 1: Whole × bottom: 2 × 3 = 6
  2. Step 2: Add the top: 6 + 1 = 7
  3. Step 3: Keep the bottom: 7/3

Answer: 7/3

Question 3

Write 33/4 as an improper fraction.

  1. Step 1: Whole × bottom: 3 × 4 = 12
  2. Step 2: Add the top: 12 + 3 = 15
  3. Step 3: Keep the bottom: 15/4

Answer: 15/4