How to Divide Fractions

We have already discussed addition and multiplication of fractions and what we have left are subtraction and division. In this post, we learn how to divide fractions.

To divide fractions, we must get the reciprocal of the divisor. This is just the same as swapping the numerator and the denominator. For example, the reciprocal of $\frac{2}{3}$ is $\frac{3}{2}$. After getting the reciprocal, just multiply the fractions.

Example 1

$\displaystyle \frac{3}{5} \div \frac{2}{3}$

Solution

First, we get the reciprocal of $\frac{2}{3}$, the divisor. This is $\frac{3}{2}$. Then, we multiply the fractions.

$\displaystyle \frac{3}{5} \times \frac{3}{2} = \frac{9}{10}$

Answer: $\frac{9}{10}$

Example 2

$\displaystyle \frac{5}{6} \div \frac{10}{7}$

Solution

First, we get the reciprocal of $\frac{10}{7}$ which is $\frac{7}{10}$. Multiplying the fractions, we have

$\displaystyle \frac{5}{6} \times \frac{7}{10} = \frac{35}{60}$

We reduce the answer to lowest terms by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 5 resulting to $\frac{7}{12}$.

Answer: $\frac{7}{12}$

Example 3

$\displaystyle 5 \frac{3}{4} \div \frac{4}{5}$

Solution

In dividing fractions, the dividend and the divisor must not be mixed fractions. Therefore, we need to convert the mixed fraction to improper fraction. To do this, we multiply $4$ by $5$ and then add $3$. The result becomes the numerator of the mixed fraction. So, the the equivalent of $5 \frac{3}{4}$ is $\frac{23}{4}$.

Multiplying the fractions, we have

$\displaystyle \frac{23}{4} \times \frac{5}{4} = \frac{115}{16}$

We can convert the improper fraction to mixed form which is equal to

$\displaystyle 7\frac{3}{16}$

Answer: $7 \frac{3}{16}$

Example 4

$\frac{7}{8} \div 4$.

Solution

If the divisor is a whole number, the reciprocal will be 1 “over” that number. In the given, the reciprocal of $4$ is $\frac{1}{4}$. After getting the reciprocal of the divisor, we multiply the two fractions:

$\displaystyle \frac{7}{8} \times \frac{1}{4} = \frac{7}{32}$.

Answer: $\frac{7}{32}$

6 Responses

1. Nina gopez says:

How did you get 9/10 in example number 3?

• Civil Service Reviewer says:

Hi Nina. The answer is not 9/10 but 7 3/16. It was a typo error due to cut and paste. Thank you.

2. claire says:

In example 2, why 5/6 is not in reciprocal to 6/5?

• Obi 1-k-Nobi says:

in example number 2 Maam 5/6 is not the divisor.

• Civil Service Reviewer says:

We get the reciprocal of the divisor which is 10/7. We keep 5/6 as is.

1. February 1, 2014

[…] This is the complete solutions and answers to the Practice Test on Division of Fractions. If you are not familiar with the method, or you have forgotten how to do it, please read “How to Divide Fractions.“ […]