Notes:

You have learned that in a division problem "1 divided by a fraction", such as

5 9

, or 1 7 6 ,

the answer is the reciprocal number of the divisor. For example, Let's use this to solve some other division problems. 2 3 = ? Or, how many times does go into 4 First, let's solve how many goes into times ?

2 7

, or 1 2
7

7 6

6 7

4 . Since 1 3 , this is 4/3 times. = 4 3

If 3/4 fits into one 4/3 times, then it fits into two double that many times, or 8/3 times. 3 So, the answer to 2 3 is double the answer to 1 4 4 3 4 8 2 . Therefore = 2 = = 2 2 , 4 3 3 3 Last, but not least: does the answer make sense? Yes. can fit over 2 times (2 2/3 because into times).

5 2 = ? Or, how many times does go into 3 3 First, let's solve how many goes . Since 1 2 = times into 3 2 So, to solve 5
2 3 2

? , we know this is 3/2 times.

If 2/3 fits into one 3/2 times, then into five it fits five as many times, or 5 3/2 times. , take five times the answer to 1
2 3

3 15 1 . Therefore = 5 = = 7 5 , 3 2 2 2

Does the answer make sense? Yes. It's easy to see that

fits into

over 7 times (7 1/2 times).

1. Solve. Just for this problem, don't write the answers as mixed numbers. The first ones are done for you. a. 1 3 10 = 10 3 3 10 30 =3 = 10 3 3 [available in the book]

b. 3

The "trick" we used on the previous page actually works for any division problem. For example, 5 2 = ? Or, how many times fit into ? (Looks like about three times.) does 6 7 First we will find out how many times 2/7 fits into 1. Then, 2/7 will fit into 5/6 exactly 5/6 as many times as what it fits into 1. Let's see how many times 2/7 fits into 1. Now, 1
2 7

7 2 5 6

.
2 7

Now we will take that answer 5/6 times. So, the answer to

is

5 6

7
2

35 12

= 2

11 12

And, it makes sense that 2/7 would fit into 5/6 (see the images) 2 11/12 or almost three times. Similarly: To solve
2 3

6 5

, use the answer to the problem

1 6 , which is 5/6. 5

Just multiply that by 2/3. Why? Because if 6/5 fits into 1 exactly 5/6 times, into 2/3 it will fit 2/3 that many times - or 2/3 5/6. The solution is
2 3

6 5

2 3

5 6

10 18

5 9

Essentially what happens is we multiply by the reciprocal of the divisor. Can you notice that? That is the "shortcut" to solve fraction division problems.

To solve division, multiply by the reciprocal of the divisor.

How many times does 3 1 4 3 3 3 = 4 9 1 = 2 4 4 go into ?

How many times does 7 4 2 5 go into ?

How many times does 2 9 go into 2 = 7 7 = 7 9 ?

3 7 5 3 = 5 = 4 4 2 8 8 Answer: 4 3/8 times (about 4 1/2 times). 2 3 3

Answer: 2 1/4 times, or a little more than 2 times. 4 7

Answer: 7/9 times, or not even one full time! 5 3 6 8 5 8 40 20 2 = = =2 6 3 18 9 9 3/8 fits into 5/6 exactly 2 2/9 times.

1 = 1 7 7 Four people share 4/7 of a pie. Each gets 1/7 of a pie.

2 1 2 = 3 3 9 Three people share 2/3 of a pie. Each gets 2/9 of a pie.

Remember: There are TWO changes in each calculation. 1) You need to change the division into multiplication. 2) You need to use the reciprocal of the divisor.