To solve a division of fractions, we have to take the reciprocal of the dividing fraction and write the division as multiplication. Then, we multiply the numerators and denominators separately. Finally, we simplify the result if possible.
Here, we will look at 10 examples of division of fractions with answers. In addition, you will be able to test your skills with some practice problems.
How to divide fractions
To divide fractions, we can follow the following steps.
Step 1: Take the reciprocal of the dividing fraction.
To take the reciprocal of a fraction, we simply have to flip the fraction. That is, we swap the numerator and the denominator.
Step 2: Change the division sign to multiplication.
Step 3: Multiply the numerators.
Step 4: Multiply the denominators.
Step 5: Simplify the final fraction if possible.
10 Examples of division of fractions with examples
EXAMPLE 1
Divide the fractions $latex \frac{4}{5}\div \frac{2}{3}$.
Solution
To divide two fractions, we have to find the reciprocal of the dividing fraction and write the division as multiplication.
Therefore, considering that the reciprocal of $latex \frac{2}{3}$ is $latex \frac{3}{2}$, we have:
$$\frac{4}{5}\div \frac{2}{3}$$
$$=\frac{4}{5}\times \frac{3}{2}$$
Now, we solve the multiplication by writing as follows:
$$=\frac{4 \times 3}{5 \times 2}$$
Simplifying the 4 in the numerator with the 2 in the denominator, we have:
$$=\frac{2 \times 3}{5 \times 1}$$
Solving the multiplication, we have:
$$=\frac{6}{5}$$
We can simplify by writing as a mixed number:
$$=1\frac{1}{5}$$
EXAMPLE 2
Solve the division of fractions $latex \frac{5}{7}\div \frac{3}{2}$.
Solution
The reciprocal of $latex \frac{3}{2}$ is $latex \frac{2}{3}$. Then, we can write the division of fractions as multiplication:
$$\frac{5}{7}\div \frac{3}{2}$$
$$=\frac{5}{7}\times \frac{2}{3}$$
Now, we write the multiplication as follows:
$$=\frac{5 \times 2}{7 \times 3}$$
Solving the multiplications in the numerator and denominator, we have:
$$=\frac{10}{21}$$
The fraction is already simplified.
EXAMPLE 3
Solve the division of fractions $latex \frac{8}{9}\div \frac{4}{5}$.
Solution
The reciprocal of $latex \frac{4}{5}$ is $latex \frac{5}{4}$. Then, we use that reciprocal to write the division as multiplication:
$$\frac{8}{9}\div \frac{4}{5}$$
$$=\frac{8}{9}\times \frac{5}{4}$$
Now, we can write as follows:
$$=\frac{8 \times 5}{9 \times 4}$$
We can simplify the 8 in the numerator with the 4 in the denominator:
$$=\frac{2 \times 5}{9 \times 1}$$
Solving the multiplication, we have:
$$=\frac{10}{9}$$
Writing as a mixed number, we have:
$$=1\frac{1}{9}$$
EXAMPLE 4
Find the result of dividing the fractions $latex \frac{9}{11}\div \frac{4}{7}$.
Solution
Considering that the reciprocal of $latex \frac{4}{7}$ is $latex \frac{7}{5}$, we can write it as follows:
$$\frac{9}{11}\div \frac{4}{7}$$
$$=\frac{9}{11}\times \frac{7}{4}$$
Now, we write the multiplication like this:
$$=\frac{9 \times 7}{11 \times 4}$$
Solving the multiplications in the numerator and denominator, we have:
$$=\frac{63}{44}$$
We can simplify by writing as a mixed number:
$$=1\frac{19}{44}$$
EXAMPLE 5
Solve the division of fractions $latex \frac{2}{3}\div \frac{1}{4} \div 2$.
Solution
In this case, we have an integer in the division. We can solve this problem by writing the whole number as a fraction. Therefore, we have:
$$\frac{2}{3}\div \frac{1}{4} \div 2$$
$$=\frac{2}{3}\div \frac{1}{4} \div \frac{2}{1}$$
Now, we convert the divisions to multiplication by taking the reciprocal of the dividing fractions:
$$=\frac{2}{3}\times \frac{4}{1}\times \frac{1}{2}$$
We can write the multiplication as follows:
$$=\frac{2 \times 4 \times 1}{3 \times 1 \times 2}$$
Simplifying the 2 in the numerator with the 2 in the denominator, we have:
$$=\frac{1 \times 4 \times 1}{3 \times 1 \times 1}$$
Solving the multiplication, we have:
$$=\frac{4}{3}$$
Writing as a mixed number, we have:
$$=1\frac{1}{3}$$
EXAMPLE 6
Find the result of the division $latex 1\frac{3}{4}\div \frac{2}{5}$.
Solution
Here, we have a mixed fraction. To solve the division, we have to start by converting the mixed fraction to an improper fraction. Therefore, we have:
$$1\frac{3}{4}\div \frac{2}{5}$$
$$=\frac{7}{4}\div \frac{2}{5}$$
Writing multiplication as division, we have:
$$=\frac{7}{4}\times \frac{5}{2}$$
Now, we solve the multiplication by writing as follows:
$$=\frac{7 \times 5}{4 \times 2}$$
$$=\frac{35}{8}$$
Writing as a mixed number, we have:
$$=4\frac{3}{8}$$
EXAMPLE 7
Solve the division $latex 2\frac{2}{3}\div 1\frac{3}{4}$.
Solution
We start by converting both mixed fractions to improper fractions. Therefore, we have:
$$2\frac{2}{3}\div 1\frac{3}{4}$$
$$=\frac{8}{3}\div \frac{7}{4}$$
Writing the division as multiplication, we have:
$$\frac{8}{3}\div \frac{7}{4}$$
$$=\frac{8}{3}\times \frac{4}{7}$$
We solve the multiplication as follows:
$$=\frac{8 \times 4}{3 \times 7}$$
$$=\frac{32}{21}$$
We can simplify by writing as a mixed number:
$$=1\frac{11}{21}$$
EXAMPLE 8
Solve the division of fractions $latex \frac{3}{5}\div \frac{3}{4}\div \frac{1}{2}$.
Solution
In this case, we have a division of three fractions, but the process used is the same. Therefore, we write division as multiplication:
$$\frac{3}{5}\div \frac{3}{4}\div \frac{1}{2}$$
$$=\frac{3}{5}\times \frac{4}{3}\times \frac{2}{1}$$
Now, we solve the multiplication by writing as follows:
$$=\frac{3 \times 4 \times 2}{5 \times 3 \times 1}$$
Simplifying the 3 in the numerator with the 3 in the denominator, we have:
$$=\frac{1 \times 4 \times 2}{5 \times 1 \times 1}$$
Solving the multiplications of the numerator and the denominator, we have:
$$=\frac{8}{5}$$
We can simplify by writing as a mixed number:
$$=1\frac{3}{5}$$
EXAMPLE 9
Solve the division of fractions $latex \frac{6}{7}\div \frac{5}{3}\div \frac{3}{4}$.
Solution
We use the reciprocals of the divisor fractions to write division as multiplication:
$$\frac{6}{7}\div \frac{5}{3}\div \frac{3}{4}$$
$$=\frac{6}{7}\times \frac{3}{5} \times \frac{4}{3}$$
We write multiplication as follows:
$$=\frac{6 \times 3 \times 4}{7 \times 5 \times 3}$$
Simplifying the 3 in the numerator with the 3 in the denominator, we have:
$$=\frac{6 \times 1 \times 4}{7 \times 5 \times 1}$$
Solving the multiplications of the numerator and the denominator, we have:
$$=\frac{24}{35}$$
EXAMPLE 10
Solve the division of fractions $latex 2\frac{3}{4}\div 1\frac{2}{3}\div 1\frac{4}{5}$.
Solution
We start by converting the mixed fractions to improper fractions:
$$2\frac{3}{4}\div 1\frac{2}{3}\div 1\frac{4}{5}$$
$$=\frac{11}{4}\div \frac{5}{3}\div \frac{9}{5}$$
Writing division as multiplication, we have:
$$=\frac{11}{4}\times \frac{3}{5}\times \frac{5}{9}$$
Now, we solve the multiplication by writing as follows:
$$=\frac{11 \times 3 \times 5}{4 \times 5 \times 9}$$
We can simplify the 5 in the numerator with the 5 in the denominator and the 3 in the numerator with the 9 in the denominator:
$$=\frac{11 \times 1 \times 1}{4 \times 1 \times 3}$$
Solving the multiplication, we have:
$$=\frac{11}{12}$$
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5 Dividing fractions practice problems
Test your skills in dividing fractions by solving the following practice problems.
See also
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