Practice identifying word problems. 

For each word problem, decide if it is multiplication or division (and in which order to divide) or subtraction or subtraction mixed with multiplication. Answers are on the next page

1. Tommy has 3/4 of a bag of Easter candy. His candy weighs 3/8 lb.How much does a full bag of Easter candy weigh?
3/4 of a set of ?
Total is (3/8)
Partitive division
3/8 ÷ (3/4)

2. Henry has 5/8 sacks of potatoes. A full sack of potatoes weighs 5 1/3 lbs How much do Henry’s potatoes weigh?
5/8 of a set of 5 1/3
Total is ?
Multiplication
(5/8) × (5 1/3)

3. Janet has 2/3 as much applesauce as Margo.  Margo has 3/4 cup of applesauce.  How much applesauce does Janet have?
2/3 of a set of 3/4 cup
Total is ?
Multiplication
(2/3) × (3/4)

4. Marianne had 1 1/3 cups of sugar.  She used 3/4 cup of sugar to make cookies.  How much sugar does she have now?
Cups - cups
subtraction
1 1/3 - 3/4

5. Ken has 4/5 bag of m&m’s. His m&m’s weigh 1 1/4 oz. How much does a full bag of m&m’s weigh?
4/5 of a set of ?
1 1/4 total
partitive division
(1 1/4) ÷ (4/5)

6. Patricia had 3/4 of a pizza.  Gave 2/3 of her amount of pizza to Greg.  How much pizza is left?
2/3 of a set of 3/4 is taken away from 3/4
subtraction and multiplication
(3/4) - ((2/3) × (3/4))

7. It takes 2/9 cup of milk to make a batch of muffins. Jessie has 5/9 cup of milk.How many batches of muffins can she make?
? sets of 2/9 unit
total 5/9
measurement division
(5/9) ÷ (2/9)

8. Sara has 2 1/3 jugs of juice. Each jug of juice can hold 3/4 cups. How many cups of juice does Sara have?
2 1/3 sets of 3/4
total ?
multiplication
(2 1/3) × (3/4)

9. Francine had 7/9 of a jug of juice.  She drank 2/3 of a jug of the juice.  How much juice does she have now?
jug - jug
subtraction
(7/9) - (2/3)

10. Ben has 3/5 lb of candy. It takes 7/10 lb to fill a bowl. How many bowls can Ben fill?
? sets of 7/10
total 3/5
measurement division
(3/5) ÷ (7/10)

11. Sally has 3/8 cups of chocolate chips. She has 3/4 as much as Kelly. How many cups of chocolate chips does Kelly have?
3/4 set of ?
total 3/8
partitive division
(3/8) ÷ (3/4)

12. Cherise has 1/2 yard of ribbon. It takes 4/9 yards to wrap a boxed gift. How many boxed gifts can Cherise wrap?
? sets of 4/9
total 1/2
measurement division
(1/2) ÷ (4/9)

13. Claire has 5 cups of sugar. It takes 3/4 cup of sugar to make one batch of cookies. How many batches of cookies can Claire make?
? sets of 3/4
total 5
measurement division
5 ÷ (3/4)

14. Mark had 3/4 of a quart of milk.  He drank 4/9 of his milk.  How much milk does he have now?
4/9 of a set of 3/4 deducted from 3/4
subtraction and multiplication
3/4 - ((4/9) × (3/4))

15. Stacy has 1/3 as much popcorn as Alex does.Stacy has 2/9 lbs of popcorn.How much popcorn does Alex have?
1/3 of a set of ?
total 2/9
partitive division
(2/9) ÷ (1/3)