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## Dividing Fractions

#### Introduction

Dividing two fractions can be made easier by multiplying one fraction by the reciprocal of the other.

#### Terms

Fraction - Fractions are used when using numbers to express parts of whole.
Divisor/Denominator - the ‘bottom’ number of a fraction. It is the total number of parts.
Dividend/Numerator - the ‘top’ number of a fraction. It is the number of parts being taken from the whole.
Reciprocal - this is the multiplicative inverse of a fraction. Simply, it is the fraction flipped upside down (so the numerator becomes the denominator and vice versa).

## Lesson

To divide by , we take the reciprocal of the fraction doing the dividing – i.e. . The inverse of is . Then we multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second: .

Here is another example:

## Examples

#### Dividing Fractions (Example #1)

Answers must be reduced and proper
Dividing fractions is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal
The reciprocal of the second fraction is
/ = *

#### Dividing Fractions (Example #2)

Answers must be reduced and proper
Dividing fractions is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal
The reciprocal of the second fraction is
/ = *

#### Dividing Fractions (Example #3)

Answers must be reduced and proper
Dividing fractions is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal
The reciprocal of the second fraction is
/ = *

#### Dividing Fractions (Example #4)

Answers must be reduced and proper
Dividing fractions is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal
The reciprocal of the second fraction is
/ = *