Grades 5-6 · Fractions of an amount
Halloween candy math: a fraction of what's left
0:49 video · Watch on YouTube
Sam has 24 pieces of candy left. One quarter of 48 is 12, which leaves 36. One third of those 36 is 12, so 36 minus 12 leaves 24.
The words "of what's left" are the whole puzzle: the second fraction is taken from the 36 that remain, not from the 48 Sam started with.
The question, solved step by step
Sam has 48 pieces of candy. He gives 1/4 to his sister. Then he eats 1/3 of what's left. How many pieces does he have now?
- One quarter of 48 is 12 (48 split into 4 equal groups of 12). His sister gets 12.
- 48 - 12 = 36 pieces are left.
- One third of what's left: one third of 36 is 12. Sam eats 12.
- 36 - 12 = 24. Sam has 24 pieces.
Answer
Sam has 24 pieces of candy.
The common mistake
Taking one third of 48 (16) instead of one third of what's left. That gives 48 - 12 - 16 = 20, which is wrong because the question says "of what's left".
Parent tip
Draw a bar for the 48 candies, split it into 4, cross out one part, then split the 3 parts left into 3. A bar model makes "of what's left" easy to see.
Video transcript
0:00Halloween candy math! Can your child solve this before the candy runs out?
0:05Sam has forty-eight pieces of candy. He gives one quarter to his sister. Then he eats one third of what's left. How many pieces does he have now?
0:15Pause and try it together. Three, two, one!
0:18One quarter of forty-eight is twelve. Forty-eight minus twelve leaves thirty-six.
0:23Now one third of what's left. One third of thirty-six is twelve.
0:28Thirty-six minus twelve is twenty-four. Sam has twenty-four pieces!
0:33The trap: taking one third of forty-eight. It says what's left, so use thirty-six.
0:39Subscribe for a new one every week! Want one on one help for your child? Book a free math assessment at taleemsquare.com.
Questions parents ask
How do you find a fraction of an amount?
What does "of what's left" mean in a fraction word problem?
What grade is a fraction of an amount problem like this?
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