Contents
About This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Meeting the Common Core State
Standards for Mathematics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Fractions
Riddle 1
Riddle 2
Riddle 3
Riddle 4
Riddle 5
Riddle 6
Riddle 7
Riddle 8
Riddle 9
Riddle 10
Riddle 11
Riddle 12
Riddle 13
Riddle 14
Riddle 15
Riddle 16
Riddle 17
Riddle 18
Riddle 19
Riddle 20
Riddle 21
Riddle 22
Riddle 23
Riddle 24
Riddle 25
Riddle 26
Identify Fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Decompose Fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Equivalent Fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Equivalent Fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Compare Fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Compare Fractions Using
Symbols >, <, = . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Identify Fractions & Rename
in Lowest Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Rename Fractions in Lowest Terms . . 13
Word Problems: Fractions . . . . . . . . 14
Word Problems: Fractions . . . . . . . . 15
Rename Mixed & Whole
Numbers as Improper Fractions . . . . 16
Rename Improper Fractions
as Mixed & Whole Numbers . . . . . . 17
Add Fractions With Like
Denominators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Add Fractions With Like
Denominators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Add Fractions With Unlike
Denominators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Add Fractions With Unlike
Denominators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Compare Mixed Numbers . . . . . . . . 22
Compare Mixed Numbers
Using Symbols >, <, = . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Add Mixed Numbers With
Like & Unlike Denominators . . . . . . 24
Subtract Fractions With
Like Denominators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Subtract Fractions With
Like Denominators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Subtract Fractions With Unlike
Denominators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Subtract Fractions With Unlike
Denominators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Subtract Mixed Numbers With
Like & Unlike Denominators . . . . . . 29
Whole Numbers x Fractions . . . . . . . 30
Fractions x Fractions . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Riddle 27
Riddle 28
Riddle 29
Riddle 30
Mixed Numbers x Whole Numbers .
Whole Numbers ÷ Fractions . . . . . . .
Fractions ÷ Fractions . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mixed Numbers ÷ Whole Numbers .
32
33
34
35
Decimals
Riddle 31
Riddle 32
Riddle 33
Riddle 34
Riddle 35
Riddle 36
Riddle 37
Riddle 38
Riddle 39
Riddle 40
Riddle 41
Riddle 42
Riddle 43
Riddle 44
Riddle 45
Riddle 46
Riddle 47
Riddle 48
Riddle 49
Decimal Place Values
to Hundredths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Decimal Place Values
to Thousandths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compare Decimals . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rename Fractions as Decimals:
Tenths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rename Fractions as Decimals:
Tenths & Hundredths . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rename Fractions as Decimals:
Tenths, Hundredths
& Thousandths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rename Mixed Numbers as
Decimals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Round to Ones & Tenths . . . . . . . . .
Round to Tenths & Hundredths . . . .
Add Decimals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Add Decimals: Money . . . . . . . . . . .
Subtract Decimals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subtract Decimals: Money . . . . . . . .
Word Problems: Money . . . . . . . . . .
Word Problems: Money . . . . . . . . . .
Whole Numbers x Decimals . . . . . . .
Decimals x Decimals . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Decimals ÷ Whole Numbers . . . . . . .
Decimals ÷ Decimals . . . . . . . . . . . .
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37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
Percents
Riddle 50 Rename Fractions as Percents . . . . . .
Riddle 51 Rename Decimals as Percents . . . . . .
Riddle 52 Rename Fractions & Decimals
as Percents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Riddle 53 50% of Dollar Amounts . . . . . . . . . .
Riddle 54 Percentages of $10.00 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Riddle 55 Word Problems: Percents . . . . . . . . .
Riddle 56 Word Problems: Percents . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Solve-the-Riddle Math Practice: Fractions & Decimals © 2012 by Liane B. Onish. Scholastic Teaching Resources
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About
This Book
R
esearch shows that to master key math skills, students need plenty of sustained practice.
Understanding fractions, decimals, and percents, and the relationships among them, is an
essential foundation skill for success in math and in life. The silly riddles on the activity pages
in this book will motivate students to complete the math problems and get this needed practice.
Each answer is keyed to a letter. Located below the math problems is the solution to the riddle.
Students write the letter that corresponds to each numerical answer to spell out the solution to
the riddle. Voila! Math practiced, riddle solved!
Meeting the Math Standards
The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) has outlined learning expectations in
mathematics for students at different grade levels. The activities in this book align with the
Numbers and Operations standard for students in grades 3 through 5. See the chart on page 5,
for more information.
For an overview of specific math skills covered in this book, see the Contents page. (These
math skills are also listed at the top of each activity sheet.) Use your students’ different ability
levels as a guide when assigning the practice pages.
Introducing the Activities
Read the riddle and math directions with students. Point out the
letter below or next to each answer’s write-on line. Explain that
the answers have the letters they will use to solve the riddle. After
they complete the math (they can do their work on scrap paper,
if needed), direct students to the bottom of the page. Have them
read the number under the solution’s first write-on line, then find
that number in their math answers. Instruct them to write the
letter that goes with that number answer on the line. When all of
the letters have been filled in, invite students to reread the riddle
and then the solution. Discuss the word play in the riddles, which
relies mostly on multiple meaning and puns.
Rename Fraction
s in
Lowest Terms
Name:
Riddle 8
Date:
What do you cal
la
dogcatcher?
Rename the fracti
ons in lowest
terms.
Solve the riddle
using your answ
ers below.
3
9
=
15
=
18
S
15
=
20
R
14
=
21
V
14
=
16
O
6
=
10
E
4
=
36
L
14
=
18
T
21
=
30
B
3
=
24
C
4
16
M
=
10
=
14
P
A
Solve the Riddle!
5
7
Solve-the-Riddle
Math: Fractions
1
3
1
4
& Decimals ©
Write the letter
that goes with
each answer.
2
3
2011 by Liane
1
9
5
6
B. Onish. Scholastic
7
8
1
8
2
3
3
4
7
8
5
6
Teaching Resource
s
13
Math Vocabulary
Review math vocabulary related to fractions and decimals. A review of these math terms will be
especially helpful to English language learners.
Fractions: numerator, denominator, whole number, mixed number, improper fraction, equivalent
fractions, rename in lowest terms
Decimals: place value, tenths, hundredths, thousandths
Symbols: equal to (=), greater than (>), less than (<), decimal point (.), dollars ($), percent (%)
Round Up or Down to the next closest place value
4
Solve-the-Riddle Math Practice: Fractions & Decimals © 2012 by Liane B. Onish. Scholastic Teaching Resources
Extra Practice Challenge
Invite students to create their own fraction, decimal, or percent practice pages for their favorite
riddles. Remind them that for an activity with twelve problems, the answer to the riddle can
be no more than twelve different letters of the alphabet. Have students write a letter below
the answer for each problem. Then have them check their work and write an answer key on a
separate sheet of paper. Collect the student-made activity pages, check them, then mix them
up, and distribute randomly.
Meeting the Common Core State Standards
for Mathematics
The activities in this book will help you meet your specific state mathematics standards as well
as those recommended by the CCSSI. These materials address the following Common Core
State Standards for students in grades 3­–5. For more information, go to the website of the
CCSSI: www.corestandards.org.
Number and Operations—
Fractions
Grade 3
Develop understanding of fractions
as numbers.
•3.NF.1
•3.NF.3a, 3b, 3c, 3d
Grade 4
Extend understanding of fraction
equivalence and ordering.
•4.NF.1
•4.NF.2
Build fractions from unit fractions
by applying and extending previous
understandings of operations on whole
numbers.
•4.NF.3a, 3b, 3c, 3d
Understand decimal notation for fractions,
and compare decimal fractions.
•4.NF.5
•4.NF.6
•4.NF.7
Grade 5
Use equivalent fractions as a strategy to
add and subtract fractions.
•5.NF.1
•5.NF.2
Apply and extend previous understandings
of multiplication and division to multiply
and divide fractions.
•5.NF.3
•5.NF.4
•5.NF.7
Number and Operations
in Base Ten
Grade 5
Understand the place value system.
•5.NBT.1
•5.NBT.2
•5.NBT.3a, 3b
•5.NBT.4
Perform operations with multi-digit
whole numbers and with decimals to
hundredths.
•5.NBT.7
Solve-the-Riddle Math Practice: Fractions & Decimals © 2012 by Liane B. Onish. Scholastic Teaching Resources
5
Identify Fractions
Name:
Riddle 1
Date:
What should you say
to a blue heron?
Name the fraction of each shape that is shaded.
Solve the riddle using your answers below.
=
R
=
6
H
=
K
Solve the Riddle!
N
=
W
=
E
=
M
=
U
=
C
=
1
2
=
P
Write the letter that goes with each answer.
7
8
5
6
5
6
1
3
3
4
4
6
!
Solve-the-Riddle Math Practice: Fractions & Decimals © 2012 by Liane B. Onish. Scholastic Teaching Resources
Decimal Place Values
to Hundredths
Riddle 31
Name:
Date:
What do you call matches
that won’t light up?
For each underlined number, circle the
correct place value. Solve the riddle using
your answers below.
7.95
3.50
N
5 hundredths
C
5 tenths
H
5 ones
6.12
I
0 hundredths
K
0 tenths
M
0 ones
I
4 hundredths
W 4 tenths
Y
6.84
4 ones
1.29
V
1 hundredth
D
6 hundredths
T
9 hundredths
R
1 tenth
I
6 tenths
B
9 tenths
N
1 one
O
6 ones
R
9 ones
2.46
9.73
5.87
G
2 hundredths
R
7 hundredths
P
8 hundredths
Q
2 tenths
E
7 tenths
K
8 tenths
S
2 ones
Z
7 ones
D
8 ones
Solve the Riddle!
6
ones
36
4.31
5
hundredths
Write the letter that goes with each answer.
2
ones
9
hundredths
1
tenth
0
hundredths
8
tenths
7
tenths
Solve-the-Riddle Math Practice: Fractions & Decimals © 2012 by Liane B. Onish. Scholastic Teaching Resources
Rename Fractions
as Percents
Riddle 50
Name:
Date:
What did the doctor tell
the little monster?
Name the fraction that is shaded.
Then rename the fraction as a percent.
Solve the riddle using your answers below.
Solve the Riddle!
50%
1
10
30%
Fraction
Percent
T
Y
S
U
E
R
O
A
N
M
G
D
Write the letter that goes with each answer.
9
10
70%
30%
7
10
–
3
10
Solve-the-Riddle Math Practice: Fractions & Decimals © 2012 by Liane B. Onish. Scholastic Teaching Resources
1
10
60%
7
10
!
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