Problem Solving Prompts

A photo of 6 muffins in a muffin tray.

Learning Goals:

  • Represent and compare fractional amounts
  • Solve problems involving the multiplication and division of multi-digit whole numbers
  • Communicate mathematical thinking orally and visually

The Challenge:

Ahmed baked two dozen muffins to deliver to his next-door neighbours’ front porches.

An overhead view of two trays, each containing 12 muffins in a 4 by 3 array.

He plans to share one-third of the muffins with the Jackson family next door, and one-quarter of the muffins with the Baker-Williams family next door.

Which group will receive more muffins? Explain how you know.

How many muffins will be left over for his own family after both neighbours get their shares?

Questions and Prompts to Support your Child:

  • What have you tried? How could we compare these fractions without having to visualize or draw out quarter and third parts?
  • If you’re not sure how to get started, try thinking about two dozen as a total number of muffins that you can start splitting up!

Extensions & Adaptations:

  • Mathies online colour tiles might be a useful tool to organize and rearrange the muffins as you think through the situation.
  • How would these deliveries and leftovers change if Ahmed had baked only one dozen muffins instead? What about six dozen?

Source: University of Waterloo – CEMC Problem of the Week Database