How do you divide fractions with answers?
The first step to dividing fractions is to find the reciprocal (reverse the numerator and denominator) of the second fraction. Next, multiply the two numerators. Then, multiply the two denominators. Finally, simplify the fractions if needed.
Final thoughts on how to divide fractions
The easiest way to divide fractions is to follow three simple steps: Flip the divisor into a reciprocal. Change the division sign into a multiplication sign and multiply. Simplify if possible.
The rule for dividing fractions is you take the first fraction and multiply it by the reciprocal of the second fraction. Yes, you heard that right: to divide, you end up multiplying, but only after first flipping the second fraction around.
- The cross multiplication method. ...
- The inverse multiplication method.
The idea here is that we change a division to a multiplication by Keeping the first number as is, Changing the operation from multiplication to division, and Flipping the second number over (making its reciprocal). It's a way to avoid the big word “reciprocal”, just as “invert” and “upside down” have been used above!
The division of fractions means breaking down a fraction into further parts. For example, if you take half (1/2) of a pizza and you further divide it into 2 equal parts, then each portion will be 1/4th of the whole pizza. Mathematically, we can express this reasoning as 1/2 ÷ 2 = 1/4.
If you're just starting out with division, drawing a picture may help you to understand division problems better. First, draw the same number of boxes as the number for the divisor. Then move from box to box adding in a dot that represents 1 out of the total dividend. The number that you have in each box is the answer.
- Convert the mixed number to an improper fraction.
- Change the division to its inverse, multiplication, and change the divisor to its reciprocal.
- Multiply and simplify to find the quotient.
Students struggle with multiplying and dividing fractions because the operations don't result in the answer they expect. With whole numbers, students learned that division results in smaller numbers, and multiplication results in larger numbers. However, the opposite is typically true for fractions.
Remember that when you multiply or divide by a negative number in an inequality, you must flip the sign.
What is the easiest way to solve a fraction question?
All you have to do is subtract the smaller numerator from the larger numerator to solve the problem. For instance, to solve 6/8 - 2/8, all you do is take away 2 from 6. The answer is 4/8, which can be reduced to 1/2.
Step 1: Create a single fraction from both the denominator and the numerator. Step 2: Apply the division rule by multiplying the top of the fraction by the reciprocal of the bottom. Step 3: Simplify the fraction to its simplest terms.

In 5th grade, students should be able to understand fraction division and what it looks like in the real world. By 6th grade, students are expected to divide fractions by using the standard algorithm.
A formal introduction to fractions begins in Grade 3, where the Number and Operations—Fractions domain first appears in the mathematics standards. Students begin with the concept of unit fractions (3.
Let's look at an example: Priscilla bought cheese that weighs ¾ pounds. If she divides it into portions that are each 1/8 pound, how many portions can she make?
Our numerator was 8, so we divide that by the denominator, 25. Be Careful: always divide the denominator into the numerator and not the other way around. In other words, the numerator always goes inside the division box.
Dividing Mixed Numbers by Fractions
Convert the mixed number into an improper fraction. Multiply the first fraction with the reciprocal of the second. Finally, simplify the answer you get and convert it into a mixed number if required.
- Identify a common factor (a number that multiplies with another to make your given number) of both the numerator and denominator.
- Divide the numerator and the denominator by that same factor.
- You have a simplified fraction. Congratulations.