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

For example,

{\color{red}{2}}\div \dfrac 1{\color{blue}{3}} = {\color{red}{2}}\times {\color{blue}{3}} = 6.

Now, note the following:

  • {\color{blue}{3}} is the reciprocal of \dfrac1{\color{blue}{3}}.

  • So, to calculate {\color{red}{2}}\div \dfrac 1{\color{blue}{3}}, we multiplied \color{red}2 by the reciprocal of \dfrac1{\color{blue}{3}}.

Thinking about division in terms of reciprocals will help us later when we want to divide whole numbers by non-unit fractions.

FLAG

Divide 4 \div \dfrac 1 {5} .

EXPLANATION

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

The reciprocal of \dfrac{1}{\color{blue}5} is \color{blue}5.

So, we have

4\div \dfrac1{\color{blue}5} = 4\times {\color{blue}5} =20.

FLAG

$3 \div \dfrac 1 {8}=$

a
$\dfrac {25} {8}$
b
$11$
c
$24$
d
$\dfrac 3 {8}$
e
$32$

Expressed as a whole number, $4 \div \dfrac{1}{11} =$

a
b
c
d
e

When dividing a whole number by a non-unit fraction, we can still use the same technique of multiplying the whole number by the reciprocal of the fraction.

The only difference is that, in order to perform the multiplication, we must convert the whole number into an improper fraction.

To illustrate, let's compute 3\div \dfrac 2 9 .

First, we write 3 as an improper fraction:

3=\dfrac{3}{1}

Next, we note that the reciprocal of \dfrac{\color{blue}2}{\color{red}9} is \dfrac{\color{red}9}{\color{blue}2} .

So, we have

3\div \dfrac 2 9 = \dfrac 3 1 \div \dfrac{\color{blue}2}{\color{red}9} = \dfrac 3 1 \times \dfrac{\color{red}9}{\color{blue}2}.

Now, we multiply our fractions.

\dfrac 3 {1} \times \dfrac{9}{2} = \dfrac {3\times 9} {1\times 2} = \dfrac{27}{2}

FLAG

Calculate the value of 4\div \dfrac35, expressing the result as a mixed number.

EXPLANATION

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

First, we write 4 as an improper fraction:

4=\dfrac{4}{1}

Next, we note that the reciprocal of \dfrac{\color{blue}3}{\color{red}5} is \dfrac{\color{red}5}{\color{blue}3}.

So, we have

4\div \dfrac 3 5 = \dfrac 4 1 \div \dfrac{\color{blue}3}{\color{red}5} = \dfrac 4 1 \times \dfrac{\color{red}5}{\color{blue}3}.

Now, we multiply our fractions.

\dfrac 4 {1} \times \dfrac{5}{3} = \dfrac {4\times 5} {1\times 3} = \dfrac{20}{3}

Finally, we write the resulting improper fraction as a mixed number:

\dfrac{20}{3} =6\,\textrm{R} 2 = 6\,\dfrac 2 {3}

FLAG

$5\div \dfrac 2 3=$

a
$\dfrac{15}{2}$
b
$\dfrac{10}{3}$
c
$\dfrac{15}{3}$
d
$\dfrac{5}{2}$
e
$\dfrac{10}{2}$

Expressed as a mixed number in its lowest terms, $2 \div \dfrac{5}{9} =$

a
b
c
d
e

Let's find the value of 8\div \dfrac 4 5.

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

First, we write 8 as an improper fraction:

8=\dfrac{8}{1}

Next, we note that the reciprocal of \dfrac{\color{blue}4}{\color{red}5} is \dfrac{\color{red}5}{\color{blue}4}.

So, we have

8\div \dfrac 4 5 = \dfrac 8 1 \div \dfrac{\color{blue}4}{\color{red}5} = \dfrac 8 1 \times \dfrac{\color{red}5}{\color{blue}4}.

Now, we multiply our fractions.

\dfrac 8 {1} \times \dfrac{5}{4} = \dfrac {8\times 5} {1\times 4} = \dfrac{40}{4}

Finally, we simplify:

40 \div 4 = 10.

Sometimes, we may wish to use a fraction multiplication strategy to simplify the problem before multiplying the fractions. Let's see an example.

FLAG

Divide 8\div \dfrac 2 5.

EXPLANATION

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

First, we write 8 as an improper fraction:

8=\dfrac{8}{1}

Next, we note that the reciprocal of \dfrac{\color{blue}2}{\color{red}5} is \dfrac{\color{red}5}{\color{blue}2}.

So, we have

8\div \dfrac 2 5 = \dfrac {8} 1 \div \dfrac{\color{blue}2}{\color{red}5} = \dfrac {8} 1 \times \dfrac{\color{red}5}{\color{blue}2}.

Now, we multiply our fractions. Note that we can simplify the process by swapping the denominators first.

\begin{align*} \dfrac {8} {1} \times \dfrac{5}{2} &= \dfrac {8} {2} \times \dfrac{5}{1} \\[5pt] & = 4 \times 5\\[5pt] & = 20 \end{align*}

FLAG

Expressed as a whole number, $4 \div \dfrac{4}{5} =$

a
b
c
d
e

Expressed as a whole number, $4 \div \dfrac 2 7=$

a
b
c
d
e

Calculate the value of 2\div \dfrac67, expressing the result as a mixed number.

EXPLANATION

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

First, we write 2 as an improper fraction:

2=\dfrac{2}{1}

Next, we note that the reciprocal of \dfrac{\color{blue}6}{\color{red}7} is \dfrac{\color{red}7}{\color{blue}6}.

So, we have

2\div \dfrac 6 {7} = \dfrac 2 1 \div \dfrac{\color{blue}6}{\color{red}7} = \dfrac 2 1 \times \dfrac{\color{red}7}{\color{blue}6}.

Now, we multiply our fractions. Note that we can simplify the process by swapping the denominators first.

\begin{align*} \dfrac21 \times \dfrac76 &= \dfrac26\times\dfrac71 \\[5pt] &= \dfrac13\times\dfrac71 \\[5pt] &=\dfrac{1\times7}{3\times 1} \\[5pt] &=\dfrac{7}{3} \end{align*}

Finally, we convert our result to a mixed number: \dfrac73 = 2\,\textrm{R}\,1 = 2\,\dfrac13

FLAG

Expressed as an improper fraction in its lowest terms, $6 \div \dfrac{8}{11} =$

a
b
c
d
e

Expressed as an mixed number in its lowest terms, $2\div \dfrac 6 {7}=$

a
b
c
d
e
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