Question

How many 5/12 are in 2 1/2

Answer 1

To find out how many of something are in something else, you divide.

For example: How many 3's are in 12? 12/3 = 4

Now let's divide 2 1/2 by 5/12! Except first you're going to want to have improper fractions.


`2(1)/(2) = (5)/(2)`

Now let's divide 5/2 by 5/12! Except how do you divide by a fraction...?

Dividing by a fraction is exactly the same as multiplying by its opposite reciprocal. (The opposite reciprocal of a fraction is just the fraction flipped, 5/12 becomes 12/5.)

Now let's multiply 5/2 by 12/5! Just multiply across to get your answer:


`(5)/(2) * (12)/(5) = (60)/(10) = \boxed{6}`