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🍕 5th grade math · Fractions & Decimals

Times makes it smaller?

Times a number less than 1 makes it smaller. Times a number more than 1 makes it bigger.

Worked example

Without working it out: is 2 × 11 greater than 11, less than 11, or equal to 11? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
Answer: greater than
Multiplying by a number less than 1 makes the product smaller; by exactly 1 keeps it the same; by more than 1 makes it bigger. 2 is more than 1, so 2 × 11 is greater than 11.

For grown-ups: Multiplication as scaling (× a number < 1 makes it smaller). Below: three problems to try with the worked answers, and a free printable sheet. Children can practise the same skill as a game, with no sign-up and no ads.

  • CCSS 5.NF.B.5
What this practises, for teachers

Practices multiplication as scaling (× a number < 1 makes it smaller) (5.NF.B.5). A printable sheet with its answer key, worked answers on the page, no accounts.

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For your class

🖨️ Printable sheet and key

On the board with this skill:

More printables, with answer keys, for this grade:

Try three

  1. Without working it out: is 1.5 × 8 greater than 8, less than 8, or equal to 8? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: greater than
    Multiplying by a number less than 1 makes the product smaller; by exactly 1 keeps it the same; by more than 1 makes it bigger. 1.5 is more than 1, so 1.5 × 8 is greater than 8.
  2. Without working it out: is 2/2 × 19 greater than 19, less than 19, or equal to 19? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: equal to
    Multiplying by a number less than 1 makes the product smaller; by exactly 1 keeps it the same; by more than 1 makes it bigger. 2/2 is 1, so 2/2 × 19 is equal to 19.
  3. Without working it out: is 1.5 × 11 greater than 11, less than 11, or equal to 11? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: greater than
    Multiplying by a number less than 1 makes the product smaller; by exactly 1 keeps it the same; by more than 1 makes it bigger. 1.5 is more than 1, so 1.5 × 11 is greater than 11.

Before and after

Learn first: Multiply fractions (5th)

Comes next: Divide with unit fractions (5th)

Name: ____________________Date: ____________Score: ____ / 12

Times makes it smaller? (5th grade)

  1. Without working it out: is 0.3 × 11 greater than 11, less than 11, or equal to 11? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  2. Without working it out: is 9/8 × 9 greater than 9, less than 9, or equal to 9? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  3. Without working it out: is 0.3 × 10 greater than 10, less than 10, or equal to 10? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  4. Without working it out: is 1/3 × 17 greater than 17, less than 17, or equal to 17? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  5. Without working it out: is 1.1 × 27 greater than 27, less than 27, or equal to 27? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  6. Without working it out: is 5/5 × 13 greater than 13, less than 13, or equal to 13? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  7. Without working it out: is 2/8 × 36 greater than 36, less than 36, or equal to 36? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  8. Without working it out: is 1 3/5 × 13 greater than 13, less than 13, or equal to 13? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  9. Without working it out: is 1.1 × 32 greater than 32, less than 32, or equal to 32? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  10. Without working it out: is 4/8 × 11 greater than 11, less than 11, or equal to 11? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  11. Without working it out: is 6/6 × 27 greater than 27, less than 27, or equal to 27? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)
  12. Without working it out: is 1.1 × 4 greater than 4, less than 4, or equal to 4? (Look at the first factor: is it less than 1, equal to 1, or more than 1?)

Answer key

  1. less than
  2. greater than
  3. less than
  4. less than
  5. greater than
  6. equal to
  7. less than
  8. greater than
  9. greater than
  10. less than
  11. equal to
  12. greater than

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