Fraction Word Problems (Grade 4)
Fraction word problems apply your knowledge of fractions to real-life situations. You need to identify whether to add, subtract, compare, or find a fraction of a quantity based on the information given.
In Class 4, these problems involve sharing food, measuring lengths, calculating distances, and everyday situations using Indian context.
What is Fraction Word Problems - Class 4 Maths (Fractions)?
A fraction word problem describes a real-world situation where you need to use fractions to find the answer. The key steps are:
- Read the problem carefully and identify the fractions.
- Decide the operation: addition, subtraction, comparison, or finding a fraction of a number.
- Solve step by step.
- Simplify the answer and write it with proper units.
Solved Examples
Example 1: Example 1: Finding a Fraction of a Number
Problem: Ria has 24 mangoes. She gave 1/4 of them to her friend. How many mangoes did she give?
Solution:
Step 1: Find 1/4 of 24.
Step 2: 24 ÷ 4 = 6.
Answer: Ria gave 6 mangoes to her friend.
Example 2: Example 2: Addition of Fractions
Problem: Aman drank 2/5 of a bottle of water before lunch and 1/5 after lunch. What fraction of the bottle did he drink in total?
Solution:
Step 1: Add: 2/5 + 1/5 = 3/5.
Answer: Aman drank 3/5 of the bottle.
Example 3: Example 3: Subtraction of Fractions
Problem: Priya had 5/6 of a chocolate bar. She ate 2/6 of it. How much is left?
Solution:
Step 1: Subtract: 5/6 − 2/6 = 3/6.
Step 2: Simplify: 3/6 = 1/2.
Answer: 1/2 of the chocolate bar is left.
Example 4: Example 4: Finding the Remaining Part
Problem: Kavi spent 3/8 of his pocket money on a notebook and 2/8 on a pen. What fraction of his pocket money is left?
Solution:
Step 1: Total spent = 3/8 + 2/8 = 5/8.
Step 2: Remaining = 1 − 5/8 = 8/8 − 5/8 = 3/8.
Answer: 3/8 of his pocket money is left.
Example 5: Example 5: Comparing Fractions
Problem: Neha ate 3/7 of a cake and Dev ate 2/5 of the same cake. Who ate more?
Solution:
Step 1: Cross multiply: 3 × 5 = 15 and 7 × 2 = 14.
Step 2: 15 > 14, so 3/7 > 2/5.
Answer: Neha ate more cake.
Example 6: Example 6: Fraction of a Quantity (Money)
Problem: Arjun had ₹60. He spent 2/3 of it on books. How much did he spend?
Solution:
Step 1: 2/3 of ₹60 = (60 ÷ 3) × 2 = 20 × 2 = ₹40.
Answer: Arjun spent ₹40 on books.
Example 7: Example 7: Unlike Fractions in Word Problems
Problem: Meera walked 1/4 km to school and 1/3 km to the park after school. What is the total distance she walked?
Solution:
Step 1: LCM of 4 and 3 = 12.
Step 2: 1/4 = 3/12, 1/3 = 4/12.
Step 3: Total = 3/12 + 4/12 = 7/12 km.
Answer: Meera walked 7/12 km in total.
Example 8: Example 8: Multi-Step Problem
Problem: A rope is 20 metres long. Aditi cut 3/5 of it. From the piece she cut, she used 1/2. How many metres did she use?
Solution:
Step 1: Length cut = 3/5 of 20 = (20 ÷ 5) × 3 = 4 × 3 = 12 m.
Step 2: Length used = 1/2 of 12 = 12 ÷ 2 = 6 m.
Answer: Aditi used 6 metres of rope.
Example 9: Example 9: Finding Total from a Fraction
Problem: Dev has some marbles. 1/3 of his marbles are blue, and the number of blue marbles is 8. How many marbles does he have in total?
Solution:
Step 1: 1/3 of total = 8.
Step 2: Total = 8 × 3 = 24.
Answer: Dev has 24 marbles in total.
Key Points to Remember
- Read the problem carefully to identify the fractions and the operation needed.
- "Of" usually means multiplication (e.g., 1/3 of 12 = 12 ÷ 3).
- "Left" or "remaining" usually means subtraction.
- "Total" or "altogether" usually means addition.
- Always simplify the final answer.
- Include units (km, ₹, metres, etc.) in your answer.
Practice Problems
- Ria has 30 stickers. She gave 2/5 of them to her friend. How many stickers did she give?
- Kavi drank 3/8 of a bottle of juice in the morning and 2/8 in the evening. What fraction did he drink in total?
- A farmer had 5/6 of a sack of rice. He sold 1/3 of a sack. How much rice does he have now?
- Neha scored 18 out of 24 in a test. What fraction of the total marks did she score? Simplify.
- Aman had Rs.80. He spent 1/4 on a pen and 1/2 on a book. How much money is left?
- A tank is 2/3 full. After adding more water, it becomes 5/6 full. What fraction of the tank was filled?
- Priya has 36 beads. 1/4 are red, 1/3 are blue, and the rest are green. How many green beads are there?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do you solve fraction word problems?
Read the problem carefully. Identify the fractions and decide whether to add, subtract, multiply, or compare. Solve step by step and simplify the answer with proper units.
Q2. What does 'fraction of a number' mean?
It means to find a part of a number. For example, 1/4 of 20 means dividing 20 into 4 equal parts and taking 1 part, which is 5.
Q3. How do I know whether to add or subtract?
Words like 'total', 'altogether', 'combined' suggest addition. Words like 'left', 'remaining', 'how much more' suggest subtraction.
Q4. What if the fractions have different denominators?
Find the LCM of the denominators, convert both fractions to like fractions, and then add or subtract the numerators.
Q5. How do you find the total when a fraction is given?
If 1/n of the total is some number, multiply that number by n to find the total. For example, if 1/4 of the total is 10, then total = 10 x 4 = 40.
Q6. Can fraction word problems have more than one step?
Yes. Many problems require two or more steps, such as finding a fraction of a number first and then subtracting from the total to find the remaining amount.
Q7. Should I always simplify the answer?
Yes. Always simplify fractions in your final answer. For example, write 1/2 instead of 3/6.
Q8. How are fraction word problems useful in daily life?
They help with sharing food equally, calculating discounts (like 1/4 off), measuring ingredients for recipes, and understanding portions of time or distance.
Q9. Are fraction word problems part of the NCERT Class 4 syllabus?
Yes. Fraction word problems are an important part of the Class 4 Fractions chapter. They help students apply fraction concepts to real-world situations.
Related Topics
- Addition of Fractions (Grade 4)
- Subtraction of Fractions (Grade 4)
- Fractions (Grade 4)
- Equivalent Fractions (Grade 4)
- Simplifying Fractions
- Comparing Fractions (Grade 4)
- Ordering Fractions
- Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions
- Fractions on a Number Line (Grade 4)
- Proper and Improper Fractions
- Fraction of a Number (Grade 4)
