Question

How to divide fractions

Answer 1

When dividing fractions, what you do, is turn it into multipcation. You use the multiplicitve inverse (reciprocal) to multiply.

For example:

3/7÷ 5/8 = 3/7×8/5

Answer 2

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. In other words, we can change the division sign to multiplication and flip the second fraction. Let's try an example.

$\frac{1}{2}$ ÷ $\frac{5}{9}$ can be rewritten as $\frac{1}{2}$ × $\frac{9}{5}$.

Now, we are simply multiplying fractions.

Multiply across the numerators and the denominators

$\frac{1}{2}$ × $\frac{9}{5}$ = $\frac{9}{10}$

Therefore, $\frac{1}{2}$ ÷ $\frac{5}{9}$ = $\frac{9}{10}$