1. Treasure Hunting Fractions
A tale of 3 greedy pirates who didn’t know much
about fractions.
Rebekah Manson

2. Multiplying Fractions
• Listen to “A Fair Share” – which treasure
hunter ends up with the greatest share?

3. • Three brave, but not very bright, treasure hunters recovered a small box of priceless Spanish
doubloons aboard a sunken ship. They took the coins back to their campsite. Since it was late,
they decided to go to sleep and divide the treasure the next day.
• One of the treasure hunters, fearing that the others did not understand mathematics well
enough to give out fair shares, took 1/3 of the coins in the middle of the night and fled into the
darkness.
• Later that night, another treasure hunter awoke and saw that some of the coins were
missing. That treasure hunter took 1/3 of the remaining coins and also fled into the night.
• The third treasure hunter awoke and was surprised to see the others gone and many of
the coins missing. Trusting that the others left a fair share, the third treasure hunter took the
remaining coins and walked away whistling happily.
• Which of the treasure hunters ended up with the greatest share of the doubloons?

5. 1/3 of 2/3 = 1/3 * 2/3=

6. 2/3 of 2/3 = 2/3 * 2/3 =

7. Summary
• “Of” means multiply
• 1st pirate 1/3 of 3/3 = 3/9
• 2nd pirate 1/3 of 2/3 = 2/9
• 3rd pirate 2/3 of 2/3 = 4/9
• Therefore the 3rd pirate walked away with the
most Spanish Doubloons!

8. • Rules for multiplying fractions/mixed numbers
– Change each number into fraction form (may be
improper)
• To change a whole number to a fraction place it over 1
• 3=
– Multiply numerators
– Multiply denominator
– Simplify (reduce)

9. Arrg, time for some practice mateys!
• 1/3 x 5/6
• 3/5 of 30
• 4 x 4/5
• 2/3 x 2 1/12
• 3/5 of the 6th grade will be taking Spanish next
year. If there are 130 6th graders, how many
will take Spanish next year?

10. Now it be ye turn mateys!
• 5/7 x 2/3
• 2 ¾ x 1 1/6
• 1/6 of 4
• 4/3 x 2/9
• 3 of 3/7