Max Maths, Year 6, Try it, Word problems (1)

In a Year 6 mathematics exercise from Max Maths, students encounter a word problem that involves determining the proportion of different fruits in a bowl. The bowl contains a total of 16 fruits, made up of 8 kiwi fruit, 6 mangoes, and 2 bananas. To help visualise the problem, students are encouraged to draw a diagram. Through the diagram, they can easily see that half of the fruits are kiwi fruits, represented by the fraction 8/16, which simplifies to 1/2. Similarly, the proportion of mangoes in the bowl is calculated to be 6/16, which simplifies to 3/8, and the proportion of bananas is shown as 2/16, simplifying to 1/8. This visual representation aids in understanding the concept of fractions and proportions in a real-world context.

The exercise then presents a 'Let’s Try It' problem where a pizza is divided into 16 equal slices, and Padma eats 4 of these slices. Students are tasked with determining what proportion of the pizza has been eaten by Padma. To assist in solving this problem, they are provided with a circle diagram representing the pizza. By examining the diagram, students can conclude that Padma has eaten 4/16 of the pizza. This fraction can be simplified to 1/4, indicating that Padma has consumed one-quarter of the entire pizza. This practical application of fractions to everyday situations helps students grasp the concept of proportions in a tangible and relatable way.