2 The Four Operations with Fractions

Instructions for Fractions

When you use the four processes with fractions, they behave like whole numbers and decimal numbers, and there are calculators available to do fraction calculations. This is a worthwhile investment for a chef or a baker. If you don’t have access to a kitchen calculator or another calculator that has fraction functions, here is a helpful link you can use to do fraction calculations: Calculator Soup You may use this link for assignments and quizzes in this class.

Addition and subtraction word problems with fractions are done the same way as other word problems. Here are a couple of examples:

If the recipe calls for [latex]\frac {1}{2}[/latex] cup of sugar, and [latex]1 \frac{1}{4}[/latex] cups of brown sugar, how much sugar will there be in total?

LaTeX: \frac{1}{2}\:+\:1\frac{1}{4}\:=\:1\frac{3}{4}           There will be a total of LaTeX: 1\frac{3}{4} cups of sugar used in the recipe.

If there are 6 cups of rice in the box, and you use LaTeX: 2\frac{1}{3} cups of rice, how much rice will be left in the box?

LaTeX: 6\:-\:2\frac{1}{3}\:=\:3\frac{2}{3}           There will be LaTeX: 3\frac{2}{3} cups of rice left in the box.

Many multiplication problems with fractions are done in the same way as other word problems, as well. For example:

If the recipe calls for LaTeX: 2\frac{1}{2} teaspoons of vanilla, and you want to triple the recipe, how much vanilla will you use?

LaTeX: 2\frac{1}{2}\:\times\:3\:=7\frac{1}{2}           You will use LaTeX: 7\frac{1}{2} teaspoons of vanilla.

There is another type of fraction multiplication problem, in which the word “of” is used. For example, if you say, What is LaTeX: \frac{1}{2} of 5? you are really saying, What is LaTeX: \frac{1}{2}\:\times\:5?     The answer would be LaTeX: 2\frac{1}{2}

Example: If you have a two-quart bottle of oil, and you want to use LaTeX: \frac{3}{4} of it, how much oil would you use?

LaTeX: 2\:\times\:\frac{3}{4}\:=1\frac{1}{2}             You will use LaTeX: 1\frac{1}{2} quarts. 

Many division word problems with fractions are done in the same way as other word problems. For example:

If there are LaTeX: 3\frac{1}{2}  cakes, and you want to divide them evenly between two people, how much cake would each person get?

LaTeX: 3\frac{1}{2}\:\div\:2\:=\:1\frac{3}{4}             Each person will get LaTeX: 1\frac{3}{4} cake.

There is another type of fraction division problem, and that is dividing by a fraction. It’s important to understand what it means to divide by a fraction. For example, the problem LaTeX: \frac{1}{2}\:\div\:\frac{1}{8}      is really saying, “How many LaTeX: \frac{1}{8}s  are there in LaTeX: \frac{1}{2}?” In other words, if you have a half of a cake, how many eighth-sized pieces could you cut from that cake?

A circle divided to show There are four 1/8s in 1/2.

There are four LaTeX: \frac{1}{8}s  in LaTeX: \frac{1}{2}.

LaTeX: \frac{1}{2}\:\div\:\frac{1}{8}\:=\:4 

THE ORDER OF FRACTIONS IN A DIVISION PROBLEM MAKES A DIFFERENCE! The first fraction in the problem is what you are starting with, and the second fraction is the value of the size or quantity you want to divide what you started with into.

Purpose

To practice reading and solving word problems using fractions relating to culinary math.

Outcomes

By completing this assignment, you will be able to…

  1. Read word problems using fractions for understanding.
  2. Correctly solve word problems with fractions using the four basic processes.

Instructions

To complete this assignment…

  1. Read the problems carefully and find the correct answers.
  2. Be sure to show how you set up each problem.

 

Tips for Success

To help in the completion of this assignment, make sure to:

  • Read each problem carefully and understand what it is asking.
  • Look for clue words in the problems.
  • Include how you set up each problem in order to get credit.

Fractions Assignment

1) If there are LaTeX: 12\:\frac{2}{3}  cups of sugar in the bag, and I use LaTeX: 4\frac{1}{3} cups of sugar in my recipe, how many cups of sugar will be left in the bag?

2) If the recipe calls for LaTeX: 3\frac{1}{4} teaspoons of almond extract, and you want to triple the recipe, how many teaspoons will you use?

3) The jar of tomato sauce contains LaTeX: 4\frac{1}{2} cups. The can of tomato sauce contains LaTeX: 2\frac{3}{4} cups. How many cups of tomato sauce will you have if you combine the jar and the can?

4) Bashir has three cakes, and he wants to cut them into LaTeX: \frac{1}{6} -sized pieces. How many pieces will he be able to cut?

5) Amanda is making a sauce that makes a total of LaTeX: 5\frac{1}{4} cups. If she wants to divide the sauce between three platters, how much sauce will she put on each platter?

6) If the bottle contains LaTeX: 2\frac{1}{2} quarts of vinegar, how many quarts would LaTeX: \frac{3}{4}  of the bottle be?

7) Luz made five pizzas for the party. If she cuts the pizza into LaTeX: \frac{1}{8}  -sized slices, how many slices will she have?

8) If one recipe calls for LaTeX: 1\frac{1}{4}  teaspoons of salt, and another recipe calls for LaTeX: 2\frac{1}{2}  teaspoons of salt, how much salt will Ming use if he makes both recipes?

9) If the recipe for roast vegetables will make LaTeX: 8\frac{1}{2}  servings, how many servings will you make if you double the recipe?

10) The bottle of cooking oil contains 42 fluid ounces. How many ounces will be left if you use LaTeX: 5\frac{1}{2}  fluid ounces in a recipe?

11) If a stick of butter is 8 tablespoons, how many tablespoons are in LaTeX: \frac{1}{4}  of a stick of butter?

12) Alonzo has LaTeX: 1\frac{2}{3}  cups of cinnamon sugar. If he wants to sprinkle it over five trays of cookies, how much sugar will he sprinkle over each tray?

13) Betty has 12 celery stalks, and she wants to cut them into LaTeX: \frac{1}{4}  -sized sticks for the veggie tray. How many sticks will she cut?

14) If the cake recipe calls for LaTeX: 2\frac{1}{2}  sticks of butter, how many sticks of butter will you need if you want to make three cakes?

15) Jamal is making a salsa that calls for LaTeX: 2\frac{1}{2}  tablespoons of lime juice, and a marinade that calls for LaTeX: 4\frac{1}{2}  tablespoons of lime juice. How much lime juice will he need all together?

16) If there are LaTeX: 2\frac{1}{2}  pints of half and half in the pitcher, and you want to divide it between four creamers, how many pints of half and half will you put in each creamer?

17) If there are 8 ounces of tea leaves in the tin, and you take out LaTeX: 1\frac{1}{2}  ounces to make tea, how many ounces of tea will be left in the tin?

18) If the recipe calls for LaTeX: 5\frac{1}{2}  cups of flour, and you want to make half of the recipe, how many cups of flour will you use?

19) If there are 12 cups of sugar in the bag, and you use LaTeX: 2\frac{2}{3}  cups of sugar, how much sugar will be left in the bag?

20) Kendra is making one cake that calls for LaTeX: 1\frac{3}{4}  sticks of butter, and another cake that calls for LaTeX: 1\frac{1}{2}  sticks of butter. How many sticks of butter will she need all together?

21) If you have 18 fluid ounces of orange juice in the pitcher, and you want to pour LaTeX: \frac{1}{3} of the juice into a glass, how many fluid ounces of orange juice will you pour into the glass?

22) If there are LaTeX: 3\frac{1}{2}  pies left over from the party, and Sam wants to divide the leftovers into LaTeX: \frac{1}{4}  -sized pieces, how many pieces will he cut?

23) If the recipe makes LaTeX: 3\frac{1}{3}   cups of pudding, and you want to divide it between 5 bowls, how many cups of pudding will be in each bowl?

24) If the recipe for salad dressing calls for LaTeX: \frac{3}{4}  cup of oil, and you want to make a triple recipe, how many cups of oil will you use?

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Culinary Math Copyright © by Eunice Graham is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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