Brent divided 3 1/5 by a number and got 4 1/2. What number did he divide by?

Question

Operations with fractions

Answer 1

3 1/5 = 16/5 and 4 1/2 = 9/2

 

Let n be the number divided into 3 1/5.

 

Then (3 1/5)/n = 4 1/2 => (16/5)/n = 9/2

 

Then n = (16/5)/(9/2) = (16/5)*(2/9) = 32/45

Answer 2

This is an edit

 

3 1/5 ÷ n = 4 1/2

16/5 ÷ n = 9/2        convert to improper fractions

16/5 = (9/2) n         multiply both sides by n

(16/5) ÷ (9/2) = n   divide both sides by 9/2

(16/5)(2/9) = n       divide by fraction, multiply by inverse

32/45 = n