3/2 divided by 1/4

Question

1. 3/2 

Answer 1

Hi Demarco,

I'd like to give you a thorough explanation of how to get the answer so you can understand why the rule Heather stated is true.

Imagine you are cutting up a square into equal pieces. The square is a whole and we represent it by 1. If I divide 1 by 1/4, and use the reciprocal rule, my answer is 4. This means that I can cut up a square into 4 pieces of equal size.

Now, what if you have half of a square, which we represent by 1/2. Well, you'll get 2 pieces instead of 4.

And finally, 3/2 = 1 + 1/2 so 3/2 divided by 1/4 is the same as 1 over 1/4 and 1/2 over 1/4. Adding up the last two answers, I get 6 pieces.

Using the rule 3/2 divided by 1/4 = 3/2 x 4 = 12/2 = 6. 

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

(3/2) ÷ (1/4) = (3/2) * 4 = 12/2 = 6

Answer 3

You can also remember that mulptiplying both numerator and denominator of the fraction by any non zero number (or anything, in general, as long as it is not 0) doesn't change the fraction. So, you have:

 3/2       3/2 * 4      3 * 2

--------- = -------------- = ------------ = 6

 1/4       1/4 * 4          1

Answer 4

Here's a tip! Dividing by a fraction is the same thing as multiplying by its reciprocal.  Once you do that multiplication step, you can then simplify the fraction that remains.