Answer:
To divide fractions, we can multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction. The reciprocal of a fraction is obtained by swapping the numerator and denominator.
So, to divide 1/4 by -3/8, we can multiply 1/4 by the reciprocal of -3/8:
1/4 ÷ -3/8 = 1/4 × -8/3
To simplify this multiplication, we can cancel common factors between the numerators and denominators:
1/4 × -8/3 = (1 × -8) / (4 × 3) = -8/12
The fraction -8/12 can be simplified by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 4:
-8/12 = (-8 ÷ 4) / (12 ÷ 4) = -2/3
Therefore, 1/4 divided by -3/8 equals -2/3.