--- title: "Fractions of a whole (age 9+)" description: "Solve word problems involving multiplication of a fraction by a whole number using visual models and equations" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/fractions-of-a-whole-age-9-mt_HJA2Oz-Zh1 source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/fractions-of-a-whole-age-9-mt_HJA2Oz-Zh1.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Fractions of a whole (age 9+) Solve word problems involving multiplication of a fraction by a whole number using visual models and equations Subject: Mathematics · Area: Fractions · Ages 9 to 10 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/fractions-of-a-whole-age-9-mt_HJA2Oz-Zh1 ## Ready when they can - Each person eats 3/8 of a pizza and there are 5 people — how many pizzas are needed? - A ribbon is cut into pieces of 2/3 metre; how long are 4 pieces altogether? - Between what two whole numbers does 6 × 3/4 lie? ## Lesson: Multiplying a fraction by a whole number You already know how to multiply a fraction by a whole number. In a word problem, the hard part is spotting which numbers to multiply. Look for a fraction that repeats, like 'each person eats 3/8', and a whole number that says how many times, like '5 people'. Multiply those two together to get the total. *(drawing: One ribbon piece is 2/3 of a metre long.)* **Example.** Four ribbon pieces are each 2/3 metre. The equation is 4 x 2/3. Multiply: 4 x 2/3 = 8/3 = 2 and 2/3 metres altogether. **Example.** Six friends each eat 3/8 of a pizza. The equation is 6 x 3/8 = 18/8 = 2 and 1/4 pizzas' worth. Pizzas only come whole, so you need to round up to 3 pizzas so nobody goes hungry. **Tip.** To find which two whole numbers an answer sits between, do the multiplication first, then look at the mixed number: 6 x 3/4 = 18/4 = 4 and 1/2, so it lies between 4 and 5. **Recap.** Turn the word problem into a fraction times a whole number, solve it, then think about what the answer means in real life. ## Practice 18 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Multiplying fractions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/multiplying-fractions-mt_TgHxujL81r) ## Opens up - [Dividing unit fractions and whole numbers](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/dividing-unit-fractions-and-whole-numbers-mt_rCMdwG-YOE)