Okay, let’s break it down step by step!
Dividing Fractions Made Simple:
-
What is a fraction? Think of a fraction like a pizza. The top number (numerator) tells you how many slices you have, and the bottom number (denominator) tells you how many slices the whole pizza is cut into.
-
Division of fractions: When you want to divide one fraction by another (like sharing pizzas), it can seem confusing at first. But there's a handy trick!
-
Reciprocal: The reciprocal of a fraction is just flipping it upside down. For example, the reciprocal of 2/5 (two slices out of five) is 5/2 (five slices out of two).
-
The trick: Instead of dividing by the second fraction, you can multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction. This is simpler!
-
Example - dividing: Let’s say you want to divide 1/4 (one slice out of four) by 2/5 (two slices out of five).
- First, find the reciprocal of 2/5, which is 5/2.
- Next, instead of dividing, multiply 1/4 by 5/2.
-
Doing the math: Multiply the tops (1 x 5 = 5) and the bottoms (4 x 2 = 8). So, your answer will be 5/8.
-
Final result: So, 1/4 divided by 2/5 equals 5/8. Voila!
You’ve just divided fractions by flipping the second one and multiplying! Easy peasy!
1 answer