3rd Grade Operations with fractions

Free printable 3rd Grade fractions worksheets for math practice

Math practice doesn't have to be boring! These free 3rd-grade fractions worksheets are a great way to make learning math fun and engaging for your child.

What your child will practice

  • Fractions of a number unit fractions
  • On fractions of a number unit fraction
  • How to convert fractions into unit fractions
  • Subtracting fractions with like denominators using number line

Skills on this page

Worksheets, games and printables

6 resources

Learn, practice and play

Why fractions are fun and important for 3rd graders

Fractions are fun to learn and very important for 3rd graders too. Fractions help us understand parts of a whole, compare and order quantities, and measure and estimate. Fractions also prepare us for more advanced math topics like decimals, percentages, ratios, and proportions. Learning fractions can also help us develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

But fractions don't have to be boring or scary. They can be enjoyable and creative. You can find fractions everywhere in the real world, such as in food, art, music, sports, and nature.

You can use fractions to make patterns, designs, puzzles, and games. Fractions can help you express your personality and preferences. For example, you can say that you like 3/4 of a pizza or are 1/2 happy and 1/2 sad.

Adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators

One of the first skills that 3rd graders need to learn is adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators. This means the fractions have the same number on the bottom (the denominator). For example, 2/5 and 3/5 have like denominators.

To add fractions with like denominators, add the numbers on the top (the numerators) and keep the denominator the same. For example:

2/5 + 3/5 = (2 + 3)/5 = 5/5

To subtract fractions with like denominators, you subtract the numerators and keep the denominator the same. For example:

3/5 - 2/5 = (3 - 2)/5 = 1/5

Adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators

Another skill that 3rd graders need to learn is adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. This means that the fractions have different numbers on the bottom. For example, 2/5 and 1/4 have, unlike denominators.

To add or subtract fractions with unlike denominators, first find a common denominator. This is a number that both denominators can divide evenly. For example, the common denominator of 5 and 4 is 20.

Then, change both fractions so that they have a common denominator. To do this, multiply the numerator and the denominator by the same number. For example:

2/5 = (2 x 4)/(5 x 4) = 8/20

1/4 = (1 x 5)/(4 x 5) = 5/20

Now that both fractions have the same denominator (20), you can add or subtract them as usual. For example:

8/20 + 5/20 = (8 + 5)/20 = 13/20

8/20 - 5/20 = (8 - 5)/20 = 3/20

Fractions of a Number: Unit Fractions

Another important concept that 3rd graders need to learn is finding fractions of a number. For example, what is 1/4 of 12? Or what is 1/3 of 15? These are called unit fractions because the numerator (the top number) is 1.

We can use a simple rule to find unit fractions of a number: multiply the denominator (the bottom number) by the whole number. For example, to find 1/4 of 12, we multiply 1 by 12 and get 12. Then we divide that by the denominator, 4, and get 3. So 1/4 of 12 is 3. You can use this rule to find any unit fraction of a number.

To help your child practice finding fractions of a number, we have included some worksheets that have different types of problems. Some problems ask your child to find the fraction of a number, such as 1/5 of 20.

Some problems ask your child to find the whole number, given the fraction and the part, such as if 1/6 of a number is 4, what is the number?

Some problems ask your child to find the missing numerator or denominator, such as if 1/_ of 18 is 6, what is the missing number?

These worksheets will challenge your child to apply their knowledge of fractions and use their logical thinking skills.

Understand the concepts

Multiplying fractions by whole numbers

Another skill that 3rd graders need to learn is multiplying fractions by whole numbers. For example, what is 2/3 times 9? Or what is 3/4 times 8?

To multiply fractions by whole numbers, we can use another simple rule: multiply the numerator by the whole number and keep the denominator the same. For example,

To find 2/3 times 9, multiply 2 by 9 and get 18. Then we keep the denominator as 3 and write the answer as 18/3. We can simplify this fraction by dividing both numbers by their greatest common factor (GCF), 3. So we get 6/1, which is the same as 6.

You can use this rule to multiply any fraction by any whole number.

To help your child practice multiplying fractions by whole numbers, we have included Mathskills4kids’ worksheets with different problems. Some problems ask your child to multiply a fraction by a whole number and write the answer in simplest form, such as 3/5 times 10.

Some problems ask your child to multiply a fraction by a whole number and write the answer as a mixed number, such as 2/7 times 14.

Some problems ask your child to multiply a mixed number by a whole number and write the answer as a mixed number or an improper fraction, such as 1 1/3 times 5.

These worksheets will help your child develop fluency and accuracy in multiplying fractions.

How to use Mathskills4kids’ free printable 3rd Grade fractions worksheets for math practice

Our Mathskills4kids’ free printable 3rd Grade fractions worksheets for math practice have been created and made available for everyone to print and use at their convenience. You can download them as PDF files and print them on any printer. You can save them on your computer or device and use them digitally.

Each worksheet has a title that tells you what skill it covers and how many problems it has. Each worksheet has an answer key showing the correct answers for each problem.

To use these worksheets effectively, we suggest that you follow these steps:

  • Choose a worksheet matching the skill you want your child to practice or review.
  • Print out the worksheet or open it on your device.
  • Explain the instructions and examples to your child and ensure they understand what to do.
  • Let your child work on the problems independently or with your guidance if needed.
  • Check their answers using the answer key and give them feedback on their performance.
  • Repeat with another worksheet or move on to another skill.

You can use these worksheets as often, and in any order you prefer. You can also mix and match different worksheets to create your custom practice sessions. You can use these worksheets as homework assignments, review exercises, assessment tools, or enrichment activities.

Tips and tricks for solving fraction problems with ease

Fractions can be tricky for some students, but they don't have to be. In Mathskills4kids.com, you’ll find fun tips and tricks that can help your child solve fraction problems with ease:

  • Use visual aids: Sometimes, it helps to draw pictures or use manipulatives (such as fraction strips, fraction circles, or fraction bars) to represent and compare fractions. This can help your child see the relationships between fractions and understand how they work.
  • Use common denominators: It is easier to use common denominators when adding or subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. To find a common denominator, use the least common multiple (LCM) of the two denominators or multiply the two denominators together. Then you can rewrite the fractions with the common denominator and add or subtract them normally.
  • Use cross-multiplication: When comparing or ordering fractions, you can use cross-multiplication to determine which fraction is larger or smaller. To do this, you multiply the numerator of one fraction by the denominator of the other fraction and vice versa.

    Then you compare the products and see which one is larger or smaller. For example, to compare 2/5 and 3/7, you can cross-multiply and get 2 times 7 = 14 and 3 times 5 = 15. Since 15 is larger than 14, 3/7 is larger than 2/5.

  • Use simplification: When working with fractions, it is always a good idea to simplify them as much as possible. This can make the calculations easier and the answers more clear. To simplify a fraction, you can divide the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common factor (GCF), the largest number that divides both numbers evenly.

    For example, to simplify 12/18, you can divide both numbers by their GCF, which is 6. So you get 12/18 = 2/3.

Train with exercises

Fun activities and games to reinforce fraction skills

Besides using Mathskills4kids’ free printable 3rd Grade fractions worksheets, you can also use some fun activities and games to reinforce your child's fraction skills and make learning more enjoyable.

Here are some ideas that you can try:

  • Fraction Bingo: This game can be played with two or more players. You will need some bingo cards with different fractions, such as 1/2, 3/4, 2/3, etc. You will also need some bingo chips or markers to cover the fractions on the cards.
  • To play the game, one player acts as the caller and reads fractions from a list or a deck of cards. The other players listen and look for the matching fraction on their bingo cards. If they have it, they cover it with a chip or marker. The first player to cover five fractions in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins the game.
  • Fraction War: This game can be played with two players. You will need a deck of cards with different fractions, such as 1/2, 3/4, 2/3, etc.

    To play the game, each player gets half of the deck and places it face down in front of them. Then they flip over the top card of their pile and compare their fractions using cross-multiplication. The player with the larger fraction wins both cards and puts them at the bottom of their pile.

    If the fractions are equal, then it is a war. The players flip over three more cards each and compare the last card using cross-multiplication. The player with the larger fraction wins all eight cards and puts them at the bottom of their pile. The game continues until one player has all the cards or until a time limit is reached.

  • Fraction Pizza: One or more players can do this activity. You will need paper plates, scissors, crayons or markers, and a ruler. You can also use some stickers or cut-outs to decorate your pizza slices.

    To do this activity, each player gets a paper plate and cuts it into eight equal slices using a ruler. Then they color each slice with a different color or pattern to represent different toppings.

    They can also label each slice with a fraction, such as 1/8, 2/8, etc. Then they mix their slices and trade them with other players to make different pizzas. They can also add up their fractions to determine how much pizza they have.

More resources and ideas for learning fractions

If you are looking for more resources, ideas, and free printable 3rd Grade fractions worksheets for your child’s math practice, here are some websites that you can visit:

  • Math Playground: This website has many interactive games and activities that cover various fraction topics, such as equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, adding fractions, subtracting fractions, multiplying fractions, dividing fractions, simplifying fractions, converting fractions to decimals and percents, and more. You can find them here: https://www.mathplayground.com/index_fractions.html.
  • Fraction Strips: These printable strips show different fractions of a whole. You can use them to compare, order, add, and subtract fractions. You can also cut them into smaller pieces to make equivalent fractions. You can find the fraction strips here: https://www.math-salamanders.com/printable-fraction-strips.html
  • Fraction Worksheets: These are worksheets that provide more practice on various fraction topics, such as simplifying fractions, converting fractions to decimals and percentages, comparing and ordering fractions, and more. You can choose the difficulty level and the type of questions for each worksheet. You can find the fraction worksheets here: https://www.k5learning.com/free-math-worksheets/third-grade-3/fractions-and-decimals

Fun activities and games

About operations with fractions in 3rd Grade

Test your 3rd grader’s understanding of fractions with these free printable 3rd Grade fractions worksheets for math practice from Mathskills4kids. You can get these free fractions worksheets in PDF format and print them so that your child can have extra practice and confidence in solving fraction problems in the classroom and at home.

In this article, we will talk about fun and engaging ways that you can use to reinforce your 3rd grader’s fractions skills. Also, our worksheets cover all the essential fractions concepts that 3rd Grade students need to learn. Above all, these worksheets are perfect for math centers, homework, review, or assessment. Plus, they are super easy to use and print.

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