Which shows the correct way to use the rule “multiply by the reciprocal” for the expression below?

5 divided by StartFraction 2 Over 9 EndFraction
StartFraction 5 Over 1 EndFraction times StartFraction 9 Over 2 EndFraction = StartFraction 45 Over 2 EndFraction
StartFraction 5 Over 1 EndFraction times StartFraction 2 Over 9 EndFraction = StartFraction 10 Over 9 EndFraction
StartFraction 1 Over 5 EndFraction times StartFraction 9 Over 2 EndFraction = StartFraction 9 Over 10 EndFraction
StartFraction 1 Over 5 EndFraction times StartFraction 2 Over 9 EndFraction = StartFraction 2 Over 45 EndFraction

1 answer

To apply the rule "multiply by the reciprocal" for the expression \( 5 \div \frac{2}{9} \), we first convert the division into multiplication by the reciprocal of \(\frac{2}{9}\).

The reciprocal of \(\frac{2}{9}\) is \(\frac{9}{2}\). Therefore,

\[ 5 \div \frac{2}{9} = 5 \times \frac{9}{2} \]

Now, let's write \( 5 \) as a fraction:

\[ \frac{5}{1} \times \frac{9}{2} \]

Now, multiplying these fractions:

\[ \frac{5 \times 9}{1 \times 2} = \frac{45}{2} \]

Among the options you provided:

  1. \( \frac{5}{1} \times \frac{9}{2} = \frac{45}{2} \) ✔️
  2. \( \frac{5}{1} \times \frac{2}{9} = \frac{10}{9} \) ❌ (this is incorrect as it is not using the reciprocal)
  3. \( \frac{1}{5} \times \frac{9}{2} = \frac{9}{10} \) ❌ (this does not represent the original problem)
  4. \( \frac{1}{5} \times \frac{2}{9} = \frac{2}{45} \) ❌ (this also does not represent the original problem)

Therefore, the correct way to use the rule "multiply by the reciprocal" for the expression is:

\( \frac{5}{1} \times \frac{9}{2} = \frac{45}{2} \)