8 3/5 divide by 3 1/2 =

Question

43/ 5      7/2  and where do I go from here?

Answer 1

First, invert (get the reciprocal of ) 7/2 to get 2/7.  Then multiply 43/5 times 2/7.

With the multiplication of fractions, you multiply all of the numerator number and multiply all the denominator numbers.

so multiply 43 times 2 for the numerator, = 86

multiply 5 times 7 for the denominator, = 35

so you get 86/35.  They will want the answer in mixed number format, because that's the form the original numbers were in.  So you should convert 86/35 to 2 and 16/35.

Answer 2

Good! You converted to improper fractions already - important first step. There after, just remember that division is just multiplying by the reciprocal. So with fractions: keep-switch-flip. This means

• Keep the first fraction as it is
• Switch the sign from division to multiplication
• Flip the second fraction over (take its reciprocal)

In this case 43/5 ÷ 7/2 becomes 43/5 • 2/7 
Now we multiply across (top•top / bottom•bottom). 43 • 2 = 86, and 5•7 = 35.
So our answer is 86/35, or 2 16/35