HOW TO DIVIDE FRACTIONS HOW TO
You'll have to take these concepts with you when you eventually learn how to solve two step linear equations. To review concepts to help you with solidifying your understanding of this lesson, take a look at how to determine common factors and multiplying a fraction and whole numbers. Then multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal. To do this you need to turn the second fraction (the one you want to divide by) upside down. The fraction that is left of the division symbol is called the dividend.
We can also divide a fraction by applying the division symbol (÷) between dividend and divisor. In this section, we will learn how to divide fractions. If we ignore the reciprocal it is similar to the multiplication of fractions. If you're ever unsure about your answer in questions involving dividing a whole number by a fraction, use this calculator to help you double check your work. To divide fractions you first reverse the numerator and the denominator numbers of the second fraction. In arithmetic, dividing fractions is much tricky but not difficult. On the other hand, numbers that aren't whole numbers would look something like 1.25 or 4 5 \frac × 3 = 20 9 For example, 2, 12, and 50 would all be whole numbers. Whole numbers are numbers that aren't fractions-they are integers.
Using our definition of reciprocal, we need to find a number that, when multiplied by 5/ 1, gives us an answer of 1.You've encountered lots of whole numbers before now. We could also write the number 5 as a fraction. Its hard to visualize splitting a fraction up into groups of other fractions. This means that, when you take a number such as 5 and then multiply it by its reciprocal, you will end up with an answer of 1. Dividing fractions can be really tough for many students. Reciprocal: A number that has a relationship with another number such that their product is 1. The question now becomes, how do we do this mathematically? The answer lies in using what is known as a reciprocal. Rather then teaching you a shortcut or trick the video will properly explain to you how to divide with fractions. Take your time to study the first maths video in which you will be introduced with the term reciprocal. Twenty screwdrivers split in half would give us 40 pieces in the end. Once you have learned how to multiply with fractions, it is time to learn how to divide with fractions. You have to imagine that each of the screwdrivers were split into 2. 3 is how many times 2 sevenths are contained in 6 sevenths - which is the answer to the question that division asks. What it means is that we end up with 40 parts of screwdrivers.
This does not mean that we end up with 40 screwdrivers, though. What do you think your answer will be?įollowing our logic, the answer should be more than 10, and in fact, it is. Luckily, there is this two-part math tutorial on the subject of dividing fractions to help you along the way. Multiply the top numbers of both fractions together to get the numerator (top number) of your new fraction. Then, flip the second fraction over so the bottom number of the second fraction is now on the top. It makes more sense if you consider that division is the opposite of multiplication, so we flip one of the fractions upside down to compensate for this. To divide fractions by fractions, start by replacing the division sign with a multiplication sign. Weird, right Instead, we are going to multiply. Take the 20 screwdrivers, and divide them by ½. Revise and learn what fractions are and how to order, add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions and work out common factors with BBC Bitesize KS3 Maths. Need a little help in the fraction department Dont sweat it. How to divide fractions TIP When dividing fractions, you dont ever have to do any division. Using this pattern, we determine that dividing the 20 screwdrivers by a number less than 1 would get us a larger answer than if we divided the 20 by 10, 5, or 2. Do you see a pattern? What did you come up with? Did you notice that, when you take your original amount (in this case, 20) and divide it by a number that continues to get smaller (10, then 5, then 2), we end up with an answer that gets larger.įollow this logic into fractions, keeping in mind that fractions are not only less than 10, 5, and 2, but 1.