Question

Pilar says that the expression 3/4 divided by 1/2 has a quotient greater than 1, and the expression 1/2 divided by 3/4 has a quotient less than 1. Is Pilar's statement correct. Please include explanation.

Answer 1

The statement is correct.

3/4 divided by 1/2 can be written as 3/4 x 2/1, because even dividing fractions you can flip the second one and multiply instead.

This gives 6/4, which can be written as 3/2. This is top heavy, meaning it is greater than 1. It could also be said as 3 divided by 2, and half of 3 is 1.5, greater than 1.

For the second one, 1/2 divided by 3/4 can be written as 1/2 x 4/3, which is 4/6, also written as 2/3.

2/3 is less than 3/3, making it less than 1.

This means Pilar is correct for both cases as the former is indeed greater than 1 and the latter is less than.