MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 6-1: Division Expressions with Fractions and Whole Numbers

Grade 6 Mathematics · Standard 6.NOS.1

Name: Date:

These are MSTAR-style questions written for this curriculum to rehearse the format. They are not official Maryland assessment items. MSTAR — Maryland's new state test, first given in spring 2027 — uses the same kinds of questions you see here: selected response, select-all, two-part evidence questions, and written responses.

Part A — Skills Check

Warm up with the lesson's core skills — one best answer each.

Question 1Selected response · 1 point

What does 3 ÷ 1/4 mean?

AHow many 1/4-size pieces fit into 3
B1/4 of 3
C3 groups of 1/4
D3 minus 1/4

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

Which expression means 'how many 1/3-size pieces are in 2'?

A1/3 ÷ 2
B2 ÷ 1/3
C2 × 1/3
D2 + 1/3

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

A rope is 4 feet long. How many 1/2-foot pieces can be cut from it?

A1/2 piece
B2 pieces
C4 pieces
D8 pieces

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

A half-pan of brownies is shared equally among 4 people. How much of the whole pan does each get?

A1/8
B1/2
C2
D8

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

Agent Cole has 3/4 of a pound of fingerprint powder and splits it equally into 2 kits. How much powder goes in each kit?

A1 1/2 pounds
B1/8 pound
C3/8 pound
D3/4 pound

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

What is 2/3 ÷ 4?

A1/6
B2/7
C3/8
D8/3

Part B — Test-Format Questions

These match the state test's formats: two-part questions, select-all, and written responses.

Question 7Two-part question

Part A

What is the value of 6 ÷ 1/5?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

A1/30
B6/5
C11
D30

Part B

Answer Part A before Part B — Part B asks about your reasoning.

Which reasoning shows why your answer to Part A is correct?

AKeep 1/5, change ÷ to ×, and flip 6/1 to 1/6: 1/5 × 1/6 = 1/30.
B6 ÷ 1/5 asks how many 1/5s fit in 6. Each whole holds 5 fifths, so 6 wholes hold 6 × 5 = 30 fifths — the same as multiplying by the reciprocal of 1/5. Check: 30 × 1/5 = 6.
CWrite 6 as 6/1 and multiply straight across without flipping: 6/1 × 1/5 = 6/5.
DAdd the whole number and the denominator of the fraction: 6 + 5 = 11.

Question 8Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about the expression 4 ÷ 1/3.

Mark the box next to EVERY answer that is true. More than one is correct.

AThe whole number 4 can be written as the fraction 4/1.
BMultiplying by the reciprocal rewrites the expression as 4/1 × 3/1.
CThe reciprocal of 1/3 is 3/1.
DThe quotient is 4/3.
EThe quotient is 12.
FThe quotient must be less than 4 because the expression uses division.

Part C — Show Your Thinking

Answer in writing, the way the state test's constructed responses work.

Question 9Written response · 2 points

Dividing 6 by 1/2 gives 12, but dividing 6 by 2 gives 3. How can dividing by a smaller number (1/2) give a bigger answer than dividing by a larger number (2)? Explain using a real-world example.

Write your answer in complete sentences. Show or explain your mathematical thinking.