Chapter Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do you subtract fractions using grid paper and counters?
A: Outline a rectangle on grid paper to show the common
denominator of the two fractions. Then use counters. For example,
3 1
to subtract



:
5 4
• Outline a rectangle on grid paper with 5 rows of 4. Each row
1 1
of the rectangle represents

, and each column represents

.
5 4
• Cover 3 of the 5 rows with counters to show
3
. (You cover 12
3 12 5
of the 20 squares since

is equivalent to

.)
5 20
• Move counters to cover as many complete columns as possible.
(This makes it easier to subtract fourths since each column
represents
1
.)
4
• Take away 1 column of counters to model subtracting
1
.
4
(You take counters from 5 of the 20 squares since
1
is
5 4
equivalent to

.)
20
Since 7 of the 20 squares in the rectangle still have counters,
7 7


of the squares have counters. The difference is

.
20 20
3 1 12 5









5 4 20 20
7



20
Q: How do you add mixed numbers?
A: Add the whole numbers and the fractions separately. For example,
3 1
to add 2

 4

:
4 2
• Start by adding the whole numbers. 2  4  6
• Then show each fraction with counters on a grid. The common
3 1 1 2
denominator for

and

is 4, and



.
4 2 2 4
• Move counters to model adding the fractions. This total is
5 1


 1

.
4 4
• Then add the whole number sum and fraction sum.
6  1
1
 7
1

4 4
NEL
Fraction Operations 339
 Q: How do you subtract a mixed number from a whole number?
A: Method 1:
Use a number line to determine the distance between the numbers.
For example, to subtract 7  1
3
, draw an arrow from 1
3
to 7.
5 5

3 2
The distance from 1

to 2 is

. The distance from 2 to 7 is 5.
5 5
2 2
The total difference is

 5, or 5

.
5 5
3 2
7  1

 5


5 5
Method 2:
3
Use fraction strips. For example, to subtract 7  1

, represent
5
each number with fraction strips. Line up the fraction strips to
compare the numbers. Then figure out the difference.

The difference is 5
2
.

5
3 2
7  1

 5


5 5
Q: How do you add or subtract fractions using equivalent fractions?
A: Find a common multiple of the two denominators. Then write a
new equation, using equivalent fractions that have the common
3 3
multiple as their denominators. To add



, for example, you
4 5
can use the common denominator 20, since 20 is a common
multiple of 4 and 5.
35 34 15 12









45 54 20 20
27 7


or 1


20 20

NEL
340 Chapter 9
 Practice Questions
(9.1) 1. Use a pattern block model to show that 8. Use a model to add or subtract. Show your
1 1 5






. work. (9.6)
3 2 6 3 3 5
a)

 2

d) 5 


(9.2) 2. Use a model to add. Use another model or 10 5 6
method to check your answers. 1 1 2
b) 2

 2

e) 6  2


5 1 3 1 4 3 7
a)



b)




8 4 5 2 5 2 7
c) 4



f) 7  6


9 3 9
(9.3) 3. Use a model to multiply. Write each answer
as a mixed number. 9. Kyle has already spent 1
5
h on a project for
6
3 3
a) 5 

b) 4 

his technology class. If his teacher said that
4 7 he should spend a total of 3 h on the project,
how much longer should he work on it? Use
(9.4) 4. A short video is
1
of an hour long. If you
3 a model to show your answer. (9.6)
watch the video five times, how many hours
does this take? Express your answer as a 10. The sum of three mixed numbers is 6
2
.
3
mixed number. What is the least possible value for the
(9.4) 5. Use a model to subtract. Use another greatest of the mixed numbers? Use a
model or method to check your answers. model or another method to explain your
4 1 5 2 thinking. (9.6)
a)



c)




7 3 6 9 11. Decide whether each sum is between 1 and 3.
11 2 3 3
b)



d)



Explain how you know. (9.7)
12 3 4 5 1 1 5 1
a) 1

 1

b)




(9.4) 6. Marian has
2
of a bag of bagels. 2 4 6 7
3
a) She adds another
1
bag of bagels. What 12. a) Estimate to decide whether each sum is
4
fraction of the bag is now full of bagels? greater than 1. (9.7)
2 5 3 3
b) Marian has another bag of bagels that is i)



ii)




5 3 7 4 7


full. What fraction describes how
6 b) Calculate each sum in part (a) to find
many more bagels are in the bag in out if you estimated correctly.
part (a)?
1 13. Add or subtract using equivalent fractions.
(9.4) 7. Nunavut covers about

of Canada’s land Show your work. (9.8)
5 1
area. Ontario covers about

of Canada’s 3 2 7 2
9 a)



c)




land area. What fraction describes how 5 7 10 3
much more of Canada’s land area is 8 2 2 3
b)



d)




covered by Nunavut than by Ontario? 9 3 3 5

NEL
Fraction Operations 341