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Dividing Fractions: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 6
- ForYear 6
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Dividing Fractions is a free printable maths worksheet for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11). Children divide a fraction by a whole number and by another fraction, using the rule keep, change, flip. It takes about 15 minutes, needs only a pencil and some scrap paper, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet has eight division questions with space to write each answer. Some divide a fraction by another fraction. Others divide a fraction by a whole number. Children use keep, change, flip, then simplify where they can. Scrap paper helps for the flip step. Children can also draw a bar to check that an answer makes sense.
- 1/2 ÷ 1/4 = ___
- 3/4 ÷ 1/2 = ___
- 2/3 ÷ 1/3 = ___
- 1/3 ÷ 2 = ___
- 4/5 ÷ 2/5 = ___
- 3/8 ÷ 3/4 = ___
- 1/4 ÷ 2 = ___
- 3/4 ÷ 3 = ___
A worked example
7/10 ÷ 1/5 = ?
This is a different question from the ones on the sheet. It shows two ways to work.
Method 1: keep, change, flip- Keep the first fraction: 7/10.
- Change ÷ to ×.
- Flip the second fraction: 1/5 becomes 5/1.
- Multiply: 7/10 × 5/1 = 35/10.
- Simplify by dividing top and bottom by 5: 35/10 = 7/2, which is 3 and 1/2.
- Write 1/5 as 2/10, so both fractions are tenths.
- Ask how many 2 tenths fit into 7 tenths.
- That is 7 ÷ 2 = 3 and 1/2.
Three ways to see a fraction division
Keep, change, flip
Keep the first fraction. Change ÷ to ×. Flip the second fraction upside down. Then multiply across and simplify. Write a whole number over 1 first, so 6 becomes 6/1.
Draw a bar
Draw a bar and shade the first fraction. Then mark out the size of the second fraction and count how many fit inside the shaded part. This works well for checking.
Use the same denominators
When both fractions share a denominator, divide the numerators. Rewrite one fraction first if you need to. For example, 1/2 can be written as 5/10.
Check by multiplying
Multiply your answer by the number you divided by. You should get back to the first fraction. If you do not, look again at the flip.
Why does keep, change, flip work?
Dividing by a fraction can feel odd at first. Dividing by 2 means sharing into two equal parts. Dividing by a fraction asks a different question: how many of this size fit into that amount? Seeing division as fitting groups inside an amount makes the rule easier to trust, because the rule then matches a picture rather than being a trick to memorise.
Keep, change, flip works because dividing by a number is the same as multiplying by its flipped form. Dividing by 2 is the same as multiplying by 1/2. A whole number can be written over 1, so 2 becomes 2/1, and flipping gives 1/2. After flipping, children multiply the numerators, multiply the denominators, then simplify if they can.
Skills and curriculum link
- Dividing fractions
- Dividing by a whole number
- Simplifying fractions
- Multiplying fractions
- Checking answers
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | Maths | Fractions, decimals and percentages | Year 6 |
What children will be able to do
- I can divide a fraction by a whole number.
- I can divide a fraction by another fraction.
- I can check my answer with a picture or sum.
Ideas to help you support your child
- Whole numbers are fractions tooAny whole number can be written over 1. Writing it this way first makes the flip step easy to see and stops children skipping it.
- Flip only the second fractionThe fraction being divided by is the one that turns upside down. The first fraction stays exactly as it is.
- Division asks how many fitDividing by a fraction means asking how many of that size fit into the amount. A picture often shows this better than a rule.
- Simplify at the endMultiply first, then look for a number that divides both the top and bottom. Simplifying keeps the value of the fraction the same.
Key words
- FractionA number that shows equal parts of a whole, such as 1/4.
- NumeratorThe top number of a fraction. It says how many parts we have.
- DenominatorThe bottom number of a fraction. It says how many equal parts the whole is split into.
- FlipTurn a fraction upside down, so the top and bottom swap places.
- SimplifyWrite a fraction with smaller numbers so it keeps the same value.
- Whole numberA number with no fraction part, such as 3 or 12.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the first question aloud. Ask your child to say what keep, change, flip means before they begin.
- Let them work down the page. Scrap paper helps for the flip step, and a quick bar drawing can help with any question.
- Check together using page 2. Ask, "How did you work that out?" The reasoning matters as much as the answer.
- Come back another day and redo any questions that felt tricky. Repeating a familiar sheet builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Draw the first fraction as a bar. Shade it, then see how many of the second fraction fit inside. Say each step out loud. Try the questions with matching denominators first, then come back to the rest.
To stretch confident children
Write your own division question where the answer is exactly 3. Then write one more for a friend to solve. Check each other's work by multiplying the answer by the fraction you divided by.
Make it a game
Race a friend. Both players work through the eight questions at the same time. The first to finish with all eight right wins. Swap sheets and check each other's answers using page 2.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child flips the first fraction instead of the second.
Try thisSay it out loud: keep the first, flip the second. Underline the fraction after the ÷ sign before starting.
Watch forA child divides a fraction by a whole number but forgets to write the whole number as a fraction, then multiplies by the whole number itself.
Try thisWrite the whole number over 1 first. For example, write 6 as 6/1, then flip it to 1/6.
Watch forA child stops at an answer such as 12/8 without simplifying.
Try thisAsk, "Can both numbers be divided by the same number?" Show that 12/8 is 3/2, then ask if they can say it as a mixed number.
Talk about it
- How do you divide a half by 2?
- What do you do when you divide by a fraction?
- How can you check your answer is sensible?
- Why do we write a whole number over 1?
- Which question did you find easiest, and why?
- Can you draw a picture to show one of your answers?
Take it off the page
Paper strip folding
Fold a paper strip into equal parts and shade some. Fold another strip to show the size you are dividing by. Count how many fit.
Ruler measuring
Draw a line on paper with a ruler. Mark it in equal steps and count how many steps fit along it. Talk about how this is like dividing.
Draw a sharing picture
Draw a rectangle for a chocolate bar. Shade part of it, then mark it into equal pieces and say what fraction each piece is.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first question, then let them lead. About 15 minutes is plenty. If they get stuck, ask them to draw a bar and count how many pieces fit.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider maths plan. It suits revision of fractions before moving on. Use it again for brothers and sisters, or a few weeks later to see what has stuck.
Where this fits in maths
Before this, children learn equivalent fractions, simplifying and multiplying fractions. They also divide whole numbers and see fractions as shares of an amount. These ideas make the flip step and the simplifying step much easier.
In Year 6 the National Curriculum includes dividing proper fractions by whole numbers. Dividing by a fraction is usually met properly later, so treat those questions as a stretch for some children. Later work builds on this with mixed numbers, ratio and algebra.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- How do you divide a half by 2?
- What do you do when you divide by a fraction?
- How can you check your answer is sensible?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Dividing Fractions for?
It is written for Year 6 (ages 10 to 11), in Key Stage 2. Some confident Year 5 children may manage it with support, and it works as revision for older children.
- What will children practise?
Children divide a fraction by a whole number and by another fraction. They use keep, change, flip, then simplify their answers. They can also draw a bar to check that an answer makes sense.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes. Children who need more time can do half the questions today and the rest on another day. Confident children can use the stretch idea on page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Draw the first fraction as a bar and count how many of the second fraction fit inside. Work through the first question together, and talk about each step before the child tries alone.
- Do I need the answers?
Yes, page 2 has them, along with notes, help and a stretch idea. Keep page 2 for the grown up. Check answers together and ask your child to explain their working.
- Is this suitable for classroom use?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 supports mixed ability groups.
- Is it free and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No, you do not need colour. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, and you can print it again for revision.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.