Question

Explain how to use multiplication to divide a whole number by a fraction.

Answer 1

To divide a whole number by a fraction, multiply the whole number by the reciprocal of the fraction. Multiplying by the reciprocal (inverse) is the same as dividing by the original fraction, so you multiply the numerators and divide by the denominators to get the result.

Step-by-step explanation:

To divide a whole number by a fraction using multiplication, you need to multiply the whole number by the reciprocal of the fraction. The reciprocal of a fraction is simply flipping the numerator and denominator. For instance, the reciprocal of ½ is 2/1 or simply 2. So, if you have to divide 8 by ½, you would multiply 8 by the reciprocal of ½, which is 2, leading to an answer of 16. This process is sometimes referred to as 'multiplying by the inverse'.

This principle works because multiplying by a fraction is the same as dividing by its reciprocal. If you have a whole number 'a' and you want to divide it by the fraction 'b/c', the operation becomes a × c/b. You simply multiply the top numbers (numerators) and divide by the bottom numbers (denominators).

Answer 2

You are multiplying the whole number with the reciprocal of the fraction.

Step-by-step explanation:

To divide a whole number by fraction.

You are taking X which is a whole number over the fraction.

its the same as taking x and multiplying it by the reciprocal of the fraction

So if you have 5 divided by 1/2, it's the same as saying 5 times 2/1.