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Fraction Classroom · 2.4.0 · Teacher answers & responses

Plan how many fixed-size servings a supply can make

Treat the serving size as the repeated unit, count how many fit in the supply and keep that count distinct from the amount per serving.

Every whole cup contributes four equal servings. The answer counts portions of the fixed quarter-cup unit.Supply portionServing sizeServingsFirst cup1/4 cup4Second cup1/4 cup4Third cup1/4 cup4All 3 cups1/4 cup12
Every whole cup contributes four equal servings. The answer counts portions of the fixed quarter-cup unit.

Build the idea

model. A supply contains 3 cups. Each serving must contain exactly 1/4 cup. How many servings can be made?

  1. Label the supply as 3 cups and the serving size as 1/4 cup per serving. The requested answer counts servings, not cups.
  2. Partition one cup into four equal quarter-cup parts. Repeat that same-sized partition for all three whole cups.
  3. Count twelve parts of the required size. The division 3 ÷ 1/4 asks how many quarter-cup servings fit; it does not ask to share three cups among four recipients.
  4. Check with multiplication: 12 servings × 1/4 cup per serving = 3 cups. That equation confirms both the quantity and the unit interpretation.

Worked example: 12 servings. Each cup contains four quarter-cup units, so three cups contain twelve such units.

Practise and explain

Try p1–p3 with a partner. Use a drawing and label your units. Try e1 independently before comparing responses.

p1. How many 1/3-cup servings can be made from 2 cups? Enter the number of servings.

Answer: 6

Teacher response: Each cup has three third-cup servings; two cups give six.

p2. How many 1/2-cup servings can be made from 5 cups?

Answer: 10

Teacher response: Five whole cups contain ten half-cup units.

p3. How many 1/8-cup servings can be made from 1 cup?

Answer: 8

Teacher response: Eight equal eighth-cup portions fill the whole cup.

e1. Plan 1/6-cup servings from a supply of 4 cups. Enter the serving count and verify the total amount.

Answer: 24

Look for:

  • Labels the divisor as an amount per serving.
  • Reports a count and checks count × serving size = total supply.

Teacher response: Four groups of six servings give twenty-four; 24 × 1/6 cup = 4 cups.

Transfer the idea

transfer. Keep the 3-cup supply but change each serving from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup. What happens to the serving count, and why?

Answer: It changes from 12 to 6. Each new serving combines two of the earlier quarter-cup portions, so twice the serving size produces half as many servings from the same supply.

Run the 15-minute workshop

teach-1. 3 minutes: Compare the questions three cups shared among four groups and three cups served in quarter-cup portions.

teach-2. 4 minutes: Partition the supply strips and write the division and multiplication check with units.

teach-3. 5 minutes: Make the first three serving plans and explain how changing serving size changes the count.

teach-4. 3 minutes: Complete the independent plan and recover the whole supply by multiplication.

Respond to the learner

misconception. Divide 3 by 4 to get 3/4 of a serving.

Teacher response: Four is the number of quarter-cup units in one whole cup, not the recipient count. Draw those units in each cup and count how often the fixed serving size fits.

support. Draw one whole cup first and count its unit-fraction portions before repeating the pattern for additional cups.

extend. For a fixed supply of 2 cups, compare half-, third- and quarter-cup portions: the counts are 4, 6 and 8. Explain the pattern in units.

Teaching notes