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Dividing Fractions

Turn the second fraction upside down, then multiply.

There are 3 Simple Steps to Divide Fractions:

Step 1. Turn the second fraction (the one you want to divide by) upside down
(this is now a reciprocal).

Step 2. Multiply the first fraction by that reciprocal

Step 3. Simplify the fraction (if needed)

Example:


Example:

1 2   ÷   1 6


Step 1. Turn the second fraction upside down (it becomes a reciprocal):

1 6 becomes 6 1


Step 2. Multiply the first fraction by that reciprocal:

(multiply tops ...)

1 2  ×  6 1   =   1 × 6 2 × 1   =   6 2

(... multiply bottoms)

 

Step 3. Simplify the fraction:

6 2   =  3

With Pen and Paper

And here is how to do it with a pen and paper (press the play button):

To help you remember:

"Dividing fractions, as easy as pie,
Flip the second fraction, then multiply.
And don't forget to simplify,
Before it's time to say goodbye"

Another way to remember is:

"leave me, change me, turn me over"

  leave change turn

 

How Many?

20 divided by 5 is asking "how many 5s in 20?" (=4) and so:

 

1 2   ÷   1 6 is really asking:

how many 1 6 s in 1 2 ?

 

Now look at the pizzas below ... how many "1/6th slices" fit into a "1/2 slice"?

How many 1/6 in 3/6 ?   Answer: 3

 

So now you can see why 1 2   ÷   1 6 = 3

 

In other words "I have half a pizza, if I divide it into one-sixth slices, how many slices is that?"

 


Another Example:

1 8   ÷   1 4


Step 1. Turn the second fraction upside down (the reciprocal):

1 4   becomes   4 1


Step 2. Multiply the first fraction by that reciprocal:

1 8   ×   4 1 = 1 × 4 8 × 1 = 4 8


Step 3. Simplify the fraction:

4 8   =   1 2

Fractions and Whole Numbers

What about division with fractions and whole numbers?

Make the whole number a fraction, by putting it over 1.

Example: 5 is also 5 1

Then continue as before.

Example:

2 3   ÷  5

Make 5 into 5 1 :

2 3   ÷   5 1

Then continue as before.

Step 1. Turn the second fraction upside down (the reciprocal):

5 1 becomes 1 5


Step 2. Multiply the first fraction by that reciprocal:

2 3 × 1 5 = 2 × 1 3 × 5 = 2 15


Step 3. Simplify the fraction:

The fraction is already as simple as it can be.

Answer = 2 15

Example:

3  ÷   1 4

Make 3 into 3 1 :

3 1   ÷   1 4


Then continue as before.

Step 1. Turn the second fraction upside down (the reciprocal):

1 4 becomes 4 1


Step 2. Multiply the first fraction by that reciprocal:

3 1 × 4 1 = 3 × 4 1 × 1 = 12 1


Step 3. Simplify the fraction:

12 1 = 12

And Remember ...

You can rewrite a question like "20 divided by 5" into "how many 5s in 20"

So you can also rewrite "3 divided by ¼" into "how many ¼s in 3" (=12)

 

Why Turn the Fraction Upside Down?

Because dividing is the opposite of multiplying!

 

A fraction says to:    
  • multiply by the top number
  • divide by the bottom number
  fraction multiply divide

But for DIVISION we:

  • divide by the top number
  • multiply by the bottom number

Example: dividing by 5/2 is the same as multiplying by 2/5

fraction multiply divide

So instead of dividing by a fraction, it is easier to turn that fraction upside down, then do a multiply.

 

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