How Do You Divide Fractions?

Note:

Dividing fractions? Change that division to a multiplication by multiplying the dividend by the reciprocal of the divisor. Learn all about it by watching this tutorial!

Keywords:

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Background Tutorials

Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b
- What is a Fraction?
Interpret the product (a/b) × q as a parts of a partition of q into b equal parts; equivalently, as the result of a sequence of operations a × q ÷ b.
- How Do You Multiply Fractions?
  
  Working with fractions can be intimidating, but if you arm yourself with the right tools, you'll find that working with fractions is no harder than working with basic numbers. In this tutorial you'll see the process for multiplying 3 very simple fractions. Enjoy!
Interpret and compute quotients of fractions, and solve word problems involving division of fractions by fractions, e.g., by using visual fraction models and equations to represent the problem.
- What's the Reciprocal Rule of Division?
  
  When you divide fractions, the trick is to rewrite division as a multiplication. But the truth is that you can always rewrite division as a multiplication, and in this tutorial you'll see the rule that makes that possible!
- What's a Reciprocal?
  
  Reciprocals are important when it comes to dividing fractions, finding perpendicular lines, dealing with inverse proportions, and so much more! In this tutorial you can review the basics about reciprocals.