Cornell Notes Topic/Objective: Dividing fractions Name:

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Essential Question: Why can you use the reciprocal of the divisor and multiply to solve a fraction divisionproblem?

Questions: Notes: Dividing fractions can be a little tricky. It’s the only operation thatrequires using the reciprocal. Using the reciprocal simply means you flip thefraction over, or invert it. For example, the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2.

Follow these steps and you’ll see how easy it really is. To divide, convert thefraction division process to a multiplication process by using the following steps.

1. Keep the first fraction as it is; Flip the second fraction to create itsreciprocal; and then Change the division to multiplication. To rememberthis, think of KFC. Now you have a multiplication problem, so…

2. Multiply the numerators.3. Multiply the denominators.4. Re-write your answer in its simplified or reduced form, if needed

Remember, once you complete Step #1 for dividing fractions, the problemactually changes from division to multiplication.

Example 1: Dividing Fractions by Fractions:

1/2 ÷ 1/3 = 1/2 x 3/1

1/2 x 3/1 = 3/2

Simplified Answer is 1 1/2

Example 2: Dividing Fractions by Whole Numbers

1/2 ÷ 5 = 1/2 ÷ 5/1 (Remember to convertwhole numbers to fractions, FIRST!)

1/2 ÷ 5/1 = 1/2 x 1/5

1/2 x 1/5 = 1/10

Example 3: Dividing Whole Numbers by Fractions

6 ÷ 1/3 = 6/1 ÷ 1/3 (Remember to convertwhole numbers to fractions, FIRST!)

6/1 ÷ 1/3 = 6/1 x 3/1

6/1 x 3/1 = 18/1 = 18

Why does this work? When working with complex fractions, what we want to dofirst is get rid of the denominator (1/3), so we can work this problem easier.

Remember that any number multiplied by its reciprocal is equal to 1. And since,1/3 x 3/1 = 1, we can use the reciprocal property of 1/3, (3/1), to make the valueof the denominator equal to 1.

You might also recall that whatever we do to the fraction’s denominator, wemust also do to its numerator, so as not to change the overall fraction “value”.

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