To divide a fraction by a whole number, we multiply the fraction by the whole number's reciprocal.

Let's use this rule to solve the following division problem:

\dfrac14 \div {\color{blue}{3}}

The reciprocal of \color{blue}3 is \dfrac{1}{{\color{blue}{3}}}. So, we have \dfrac 1 4\, {\color{red}\div} \, {\color{blue}3} = \dfrac 1 4\, {\color{red}\times} \,\dfrac{1}{\color{blue}3}.

Now, we multiply fractions. We multiply the numerators, and we multiply the denominators: \dfrac 1 4 \times \dfrac{1}{3} = \dfrac {1\times 1} {4\times 3} = \dfrac{1}{12}

Therefore, we conclude that

\dfrac14 \div 3 = \dfrac{1}{12}.

We get the same result by using a fraction model:

FLAG

What is the value of \dfrac 1 6 \div 5 ?

EXPLANATION

Dividing a fraction by a whole number is equivalent to multiplying the fraction by the reciprocal of that whole number.

The reciprocal of \color{blue}5 is \dfrac{1}{{\color{blue}{5}}}. So, we have

\dfrac 1 6\, {\color{red}\div} \, {\color{blue}5} = \dfrac 1 6\, {\color{red}\times} \,\dfrac{1}{\color{blue}5}.

Now, we multiply the fractions. We multiply the numerators, and we multiply the denominators:

\dfrac 1 6 \times \dfrac{1}{5} = \dfrac {1\times 1} {6\times 5} = \dfrac{1}{30}

FLAG

$\dfrac 1 7 \div 3 =$

a
$\dfrac{10}{7} $
b
$\dfrac{1}{21} $
c
$\dfrac{7}{3} $
d
$\dfrac{3}{7} $
e
$\dfrac{10}{21} $

$\dfrac 1 7 \div 6 =$

a
$\dfrac{7}{6}$
b
$42$
c
$\dfrac{6}{7}$
d
$\dfrac{1}{42}$
e
$40$

What is the values of \dfrac 2 3 \div 7 ?

EXPLANATION

Dividing a fraction by a whole number is equivalent to multiplying the fraction by the reciprocal of that whole number.

The reciprocal of \color{blue}7 is \dfrac{1}{{\color{blue}{7}}}. So, we have

\dfrac 2 3\, {\color{red}\div} \, {\color{blue}7} = \dfrac 2 3\, {\color{red}\times} \,\dfrac{1}{\color{blue}7} .

Now, we multiply fractions. We multiply the numerators, and we multiply the denominators:

\dfrac 2 3 \times \dfrac{1}{7} = \dfrac {2\times 1} {3\times 7} = \dfrac{2}{21}

FLAG

$\dfrac 2 5 \div 3=$

a
$\dfrac{1}{5}$
b
$\dfrac{2}{15}$
c
$\dfrac{4}{15}$
d
$\dfrac{6}{5}$
e
$\dfrac{2}{5}$

$\dfrac 2 7 \div 5 =$

a
$\dfrac{2}{25}$
b
$\dfrac{1}{35}$
c
$\dfrac{2}{35}$
d
$\dfrac{15}{7}$
e
$\dfrac{10}{7}$

Find the value of \dfrac{6}{11} \div 3 .

EXPLANATION

Dividing a fraction by a whole number is equivalent to multiplying the fraction by the reciprocal of that whole number.

The reciprocal of \color{blue}3 is \dfrac{1}{{\color{blue}{3}}}. So, we have

\dfrac {6}{11} \, {\color{red}\div} \, {\color{blue}3} = \dfrac {6}{11}\, {\color{red}\times} \,\dfrac{1}{\color{blue}3}.

Now, we multiply fractions. We multiply the numerators, and we multiply the denominators:

\dfrac {6}{11} \times \dfrac{1}{3} = \dfrac {6\times 1} {11\times 3} = \dfrac{6}{33}

Finally, we simplify our result by dividing the numerator and denominator by 3\mathbin{:}

\dfrac{6}{33} = \dfrac{6\div 3}{33\div 3} = \dfrac{2}{11}

FLAG

$\dfrac{4}{7} \div 2=$

a
$\dfrac{3}{7}$
b
$\dfrac{8}{7}$
c
$\dfrac{2}{7}$
d
$\dfrac{6}{7}$
e
$\dfrac{1}{7}$

$\dfrac{10}{11} \div 5=$

a
$\dfrac{7}{11}$
b
$\dfrac{2}{11}$
c
$\dfrac{9}{55}$
d
$\dfrac{2}{55}$
e
$\dfrac{50}{11}$
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