Rocket lines up a measuring jug, a 1/4 cup scoop and a tray on the Numbers Desk. "Lab day," he says.
"Predictions first," says Raven. "How many 1/4 scoops fill 2 cups?"
"Eight," Rocket says. "Two wholes, four fourths each." He grabs the scoop and splashes water across the tray.
Nova dims her light. "Slow pours," she says. "A wet floor is not part of the data."
Rocket wipes the tray and starts again. Scoop, pour, count. Scoop, pour, count.
"Eight," Raven says, reading the jug. "What do you notice about your prediction and your count?"
"They match," Rocket grins. "2 ÷ 1/4 = 8, on paper and in the jug."
Today you divide with real things: paper strips and scoops of water. Predict first, then count, then write the division sentence.
Every count becomes a row in your Numbers Notebook. The crew's own counts are in the table below.
| Fill to | Scoop or piece | Count | Division sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 cups | 1/4 cup | 8 | 2 ÷ 1/4 = 8 |
| 1 1/2 cups | 1/4 cup | 6 | 1 1/2 ÷ 1/4 = 6 |
| 1 cup | 1/3 cup | 3 | 1 ÷ 1/3 = 3 |
| 3/4 strip | 1/8 strip | 6 | 3/4 ÷ 1/8 = 6 |
Each row of Raven's log is a division sentence. The count is the quotient, and the scoop is the divisor.
A mixed number like 1 1/2 is easier as an improper fraction: 1 1/2 = 3/2. Then 3/2 ÷ 1/4 = 3/2 × 4/1 = 12/2 = 6.
| What the lab shows | True or false? |
|---|---|
| A smaller scoop means more scoops to fill the same jug. | ? |
| The count of scoops is the quotient. | ? |
| The scoop size is the dividend. | ? |
| 2 ÷ 1/4 = 8 | ? |
Careful counting. Tomorrow you read Raven's supply list and find how many stations the crew can set up.