<img src="https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=iA1Pi1a8Dy00ym" style="display:none" height="1" width="1" alt="" />

# Product Estimation with Mixed Numbers/Fractions

## Use benchmarks of 0, 1/2 and 1 whole to estimate products of mixed numbers and fractions.

Estimated5 minsto complete
%
Progress
Practice Product Estimation with Mixed Numbers/Fractions

MEMORY METER
This indicates how strong in your memory this concept is
Progress
Estimated5 minsto complete
%
Estimate Products and Quotients of Fractions and Mixed Numbers

### [Figure1] License: CC BY-NC 3.0

Nisi and Jamie ordered pizza for lunch. They ate 23\begin{align*}\frac{2}{3}\end{align*} of the pizza which was cut into 24 slices. How many slices did they eat altogether? If Ethan woke up in the morning and ate half of the remaining pizza, what fraction of the 24 slices did he eat?

In this concept, you will learn to estimate products and quotients of fractions and mixed numbers.

### Estimating Products and Quotients of Fractions

Estimation is a useful strategy to use to check that your computation is reasonable. It is also a way to find an approximate answer to a solution.

To estimate products and quotients of mixed numbers, round the fractions to the nearest whole number. If the fraction is less than 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*} round down and if it is more than 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*} round up.

Let's look at an example.

Estimate the product:

8411×71112\begin{align*}8\frac{4}{11} \times 7 \frac{11}{12}\end{align*}

First, since 411\begin{align*}\frac{4}{11}\end{align*} is less than 12,8411\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}, 8\frac{4}{11}\end{align*} rounds down to 8.

Next, since 1112\begin{align*}\frac{11}{12}\end{align*} is greater than 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}, 71112\begin{align*}7\frac{11}{12}\end{align*} rounds up to 8.

Then, multiply to find the estimated product.

8×8=64\begin{align*}8 \times 8 = 64\end{align*}

The answer is 64.

Here is another example.

Estimate the quotient:

22310÷6913\begin{align*}22\frac{3}{10} \div 6\frac{9}{13}\end{align*}

First, since 310\begin{align*}\frac{3}{10}\end{align*} is less than 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}, 22310\begin{align*}22\frac{3}{10}\end{align*} rounds down to 22.

Next, since 913\begin{align*}\frac{9}{13}\end{align*} is greater than 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}, 6913\begin{align*}6\frac{9}{13}\end{align*} rounds up to 7.

Then, divide to find the estimated product.

22÷7=3.14\begin{align*}22 \div 7=3.14\end{align*}

The answer is approximately 3.

### Examples

#### Example 1

Earlier, you were given a problem about Nisi and Jamie and their pizza.

Of the 24 slices, they had eaten 23\begin{align*}\frac{2}{3}\end{align*} of the pizza.

Therefore, multiply 23×24\begin{align*}\frac{2}{3} \times 24\end{align*} to find the number of slices they had eaten.

First, set up the expression to multiply: 23×241\begin{align*}\frac{2}{3} \times \frac{24}{1}\end{align*}

Next, multiply the numerator and the denominators.

23×241=483\begin{align*}\frac{2}{3} \times \frac{24}{1} = \frac{48}{3}\end{align*}

Then, simplify.

483=16\begin{align*}\frac{48}{3}=16\end{align*}

Therefore, Nisi and Jamie ate 16 of the 24 slices.

Now, since they ate 16 of the 24 slices, there were 8 of the 24 slices left. How many did Ethan eat when he got up?

First, remember that Ethan ate 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*} of the remaining pizza.

Next, set up the expression to solve.

824×12\begin{align*}\frac{8}{24} \times \frac{1}{2}\end{align*}

Then solve and simplify.

824×12848==84816\begin{align*}\begin{array}{rcl} \frac{8}{24} \times \frac{1}{2} & = & \frac{8}{48}\\ \frac{8}{48} & = & \frac{1}{6} \end{array}\end{align*}

So, Ethan ate 16\begin{align*}\frac{1}{6}\end{align*} of the original pizza, or 4 slices.

#### Example 2

Estimate the following quotient.

141112÷278\begin{align*}14\frac{11}{12} \div 2\frac{7}{8}\end{align*}

First, since 1112\begin{align*}\frac{11}{12}\end{align*} is greater than 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}, 141112\begin{align*}14\frac{11}{12}\end{align*} rounds up to 15.

Next, since 78\begin{align*}\frac{7}{8}\end{align*} is greater than 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}, 278\begin{align*}2\frac{7}{8}\end{align*} rounds up to 3.

Then, divide to find the estimated product.

15÷3=5\begin{align*}15 \div 3=5\end{align*}

The answer is approximately 5.

#### Example 3

612×418\begin{align*}6\frac{1}{2} \times 4 \frac{1}{8}\end{align*}

First, since the fraction is 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}, 612\begin{align*}6\frac{1}{2}\end{align*} rounds up to 7.

Next, since 18\begin{align*}\frac{1}{8}\end{align*} is less than 12\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}\end{align*}, 418\begin{align*}4\frac{1}{8}\end{align*} rounds down to 4.

Then, multiply to find the estimated product.

7×4=28\begin{align*}7 \times 4=28\end{align*}

The answer is 28.

#### Example 4

1134÷2110\begin{align*}11\frac{3}{4} \div 2 \frac{1}{10}\end{align*}

First, since 34\begin{align*}\frac{3}{4}\end{align*} is greater than 12,1134\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}, 11\frac{3}{4}\end{align*} rounds up to 12.

Next, since 110\begin{align*}\frac{1}{10}\end{align*} is less than 12,2110\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}, 2\frac{1}{10}\end{align*} rounds down to 2.

Then, divide to find the estimated product.

12÷2=6\begin{align*}12 \div 2 = 6\end{align*}

The answer is approximately 6.

#### Example 5

34×89\begin{align*}\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{8}{9}\end{align*}

First, since 34\begin{align*}\frac{3}{4}\end{align*} is greater than 12,34\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}, \frac{3}{4}\end{align*} rounds up to 1.

Next, since 89\begin{align*}\frac{8}{9}\end{align*} is greater than 12,89\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2}, \frac{8}{9}\end{align*} rounds up to 1.

Then, multiply to find the estimated product.

1×1=1\begin{align*}1 \times 1 = 1\end{align*}

The answer is 1.

### Review

Estimate each product or quotient.

1. 78×78=\begin{align*}\frac{7}{8} \times \frac{7}{8} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
2. 312×34=\begin{align*}3\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{3}{4} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
3. 623×45=\begin{align*}6\frac{2}{3} \times \frac{4}{5} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
4. 8112×318=\begin{align*}8\frac{1}{12} \times 3\frac{1}{8} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
5. 945×619=\begin{align*}9\frac{4}{5} \times 6\frac{1}{9} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
6. 1213×456=\begin{align*}12\frac{1}{3} \times 4\frac{5}{6} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
7. 647×338=\begin{align*}6\frac{4}{7} \times 3\frac{3}{8} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
8. 1218÷313=\begin{align*}12\frac{1}{8} \div 3\frac{1}{3} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
9. 24210÷313=\begin{align*}24\frac{2}{10} \div 3\frac{1}{3} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
10. 2819÷7110=\begin{align*}28\frac{1}{9} \div 7\frac{1}{10} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
11. 923÷145=\begin{align*}9\frac{2}{3} \div 1\frac{4}{5} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
12. 1412÷3110=\begin{align*}14\frac{1}{2} \div 3\frac{1}{10} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
13. 9310÷319=\begin{align*}9\frac{3}{10} \div 3\frac{1}{9} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
14. 16415÷215=\begin{align*}16\frac{4}{15} \div 2\frac{1}{5} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}
15. 30412÷3118=\begin{align*}30\frac{4}{12} \div 3\frac{1}{18} = \underline{\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;}\end{align*}

To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 2.9.

### Notes/Highlights Having trouble? Report an issue.

Color Highlighted Text Notes
Please to create your own Highlights / Notes

### Vocabulary Language: English

TermDefinition
Estimation Estimation is the process of finding an approximate answer to a problem.
fraction A fraction is a part of a whole. A fraction is written mathematically as one value on top of another, separated by a fraction bar. It is also called a rational number.
Greatest Common Factor The greatest common factor of two numbers is the greatest number that both of the original numbers can be divided by evenly.
improper fraction An improper fraction is a fraction in which the absolute value of the numerator is greater than the absolute value of the denominator.
Mixed Number A mixed number is a number made up of a whole number and a fraction, such as $4\frac{3}{5}$.
Product The product is the result after two amounts have been multiplied.
Quotient The quotient is the result after two amounts have been divided.