Question

Ms. Smith has a recipe for a batch of cookies that calls for ¼ cup of flour but she has to cut the recipe into a half because of the number of people she is serving. How much flour does she need?
Help

Answer 1

Answer:

When we read this, we need to think what they're telling us to do: you need to calculate a half of 1/4 cup, that means, divide 1/4 by 2:

1/4  ÷ 2

To calculate this, what we can do is transform the  ÷2 to *1/2, which is the same, as dividing something by x is the same that multiplying by 1/x, for×

1/4 × 1/2

Now, we only have to multiply in line:

1/4 × 1/2 = 1*1/4*2 = 1/8

Now, we know it's 1/8 cup of flour

Answer 2

Answer:

$\frac{1}{8}$ cup of flour

Step-by-step explanation:

To change the ÷ sign to a × sign, swap the denominators and numerators of the second fraction.

$\frac{1}{4}$ ÷ $\frac{2}{1}$ = $\frac{1}{4}$ × $\frac{1}{2}$

Directly multiply. (Denominators with denominators and numerators with numerators)

$\frac{1}{4}$ × $\frac{1}{2}$ = $\frac{1}{8}$