How do you divide fractions?

How do you divide fractions?

• A. Flip the second fraction and then multiply
• B. Find a common denominator
• C. Multiply numerators and denominators
• D. Take the reciprocal of the first fraction and multiply

Answer: (A)

Dividing fractions is done by multiplying by the reciprocal of the divisor. When you divide a fraction by another fraction, you multiply by the flipped second fraction. In notation, (a/b) ÷ (c/d) = (a/b) × (d/c). For example, 3/4 ÷ 2/5 = 3/4 × 5/2 = 15/8. Flipping the second fraction and then multiplying follows this exact rule. Other methods don’t fit: finding a common denominator is used for adding or subtracting fractions, not dividing; multiplying numerators and denominators alone would be the rule for multiplying fractions, not dividing; taking the reciprocal of the first fraction and multiplying would not generally yield the correct result because you must reciprocate the divisor, not the dividend.

Dividing fractions is done by multiplying by the reciprocal of the divisor. When you divide a fraction by another fraction, you multiply by the flipped second fraction. In notation, (a/b) ÷ (c/d) = (a/b) × (d/c).

For example, 3/4 ÷ 2/5 = 3/4 × 5/2 = 15/8. Flipping the second fraction and then multiplying follows this exact rule.

Other methods don’t fit: finding a common denominator is used for adding or subtracting fractions, not dividing; multiplying numerators and denominators alone would be the rule for multiplying fractions, not dividing; taking the reciprocal of the first fraction and multiplying would not generally yield the correct result because you must reciprocate the divisor, not the dividend.