This is first a division problem, and secondly a division problem involving one negative quantity. The correct rewrite of this expression will therefore be negative:
- (5 1/4 ÷ 2 1/2).
Rewrite 5 1/4 as 21/4 and 2 1/2 as 5/2. Then we have:
- (21/4) ÷ (5/2),
which is equivalent to:
- (21/4) * (2/5) = - 42/20 = -21/10, or -2 1/10.