Dividing Fractions Using Fraction Strip Diagrams

Dividing fractions can be a difficult concept for students to understand, but using models such as diagrams or number lines can help to visualize the process and make it more concrete.

Here is an explanation of how to divide fractions using fraction strips:

Use fraction strips to solve 1/2 ÷ 3/4.
1. Think through the problem as "How many groups of 3/4 are needed to cover the area of 1/2?"
2. Draw fraction strips to represent each fraction. Make sure they are both the same size.

3. Using the diagram, we can see that we would need two out of three of the green boxes to cover the blue area, so we would need 2/3 of a group of 3/4.

So, we can solve the question. 1/2 ÷ 3/4 = 2/3.
Here is another example:

Use fraction strips to solve 2/3 ÷ 5/12.
1. Think through the problem as "How many groups of 5/12 are needed to cover the area of 2/3?"
2. Draw fraction strips to represent each fraction. Make sure they are both the same size.

3. Using the diagram, we can see that we would need one whole group of 5/12, plus three more twelfths, or 3/5 of a group of 5/12 to cover the yellow area of 2/3.

So, we can solve the question. 2/3 ÷ 5/12 = 1 3/5.

What do you think? Do you use this visual strategy in your classroom? Will this strategy help your students? Let me know in the comments below.

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