Word Problem Involving Fractions and Division

Question

A metal rod will be cut into pieces that are each 1/48 meters long. The rod is 3/8 meters long. How many pieces will be made from the rod?

Answer 1

The question asks how many 1/48 meter sections can be made from a 3/8 meter rod. We want to know how many times 3/8 can be divided by 1/48, or

(3/8)/(1/48)

Move the 1/48 term to the top by inverting it:

(3/8) * (48/1)

or (3*48)/(1*8)

We can simplify since 48/8 = 6, to give

3*6/1 or 18

18 sections of 1/48 meters in 3/8 meter rod.

To check, 18*1/48 = 18/48, or 3/8 meter. Aha!