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Remember . . .
Here's a memory trick: the Denominator is the bottom, or Down number in a fraction -- and both Denominator and Down start with the letter D. |
Dividing fractions is almost as simple a multiplying them. Unlike adding and subtracting, where care must be taken to ensure that both fractions have a common denominator, the division operation has no such requirement.
Dividing by a number is the same as multiplying by the number's reciprocal. For example:
- Dividing by 2 is the same as multiplying by 1/2
- Dividing by 4 is the same as multiplying by 1/4
Simply invert (i.e. flip over) the second fraction, then multiply the new numerators (top numbers), and the new denomominators (bottom numbers), and place the resulting answers in their respective top / bottom location in the answer fraction. Then reduce the fraction, if possible
Example 1: Simple fraction division
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Invert the 1/2, creating 2/1, then multiply numerators and denominators to find the answer:
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Example 2: Fraction division requiring reducing and conversion:
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Invert the 2/5, then multiply:
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Then reduce the fraction:
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Then convert the improper fraction to a mixed number:
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Got it? Great! Then go to the SuperKids Math Worksheet Creator for Basic Fractions, and give it a try!
[Questions?]
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