Middle Grades Math: Multiplication and Division of Rational Numbers

Objectives

• Students will use an interactive area model to multiply and divide positive decimals and mixed numbers.
• Students will use the distributive and commutative properties to multiply decimals and mixed numbers.
• Students will use the idea of division as an inverse operation of multiplication to divide decimals and mixed numbers.

Vocabulary

• factor
• product
• dividend
• divisor
• quotient
• commutative property of multiplication
• distributive property
• inverse

About the Lesson

This lesson involves using an interactive area model to solve multiplication and division problems with positive decimals and mixed numbers.
As a result, students will:

• Make connections between the geometric model and mathematical operations.
• Record their steps and observations on their worksheets.
• Randomly generate new numeric expressions.