Question

When multiplying fractions, simply multiply each numerator together and each denominator together. To divide fractions, you do which of the following?

A) Multiply the numerators and denominators.
B) Multiply the numerators and divide by the denominator.
C) Divide the numerator by the denominator.
D) Invert the second fraction and multiply.

Answer 1

To divide fractions, you should invert the second fraction and multiply (Option D). This process of inverting and multiplying changes the division into multiplication, and then you can multiply across the numerators and denominators.

Step-by-step explanation:

When dealing with the division of fractions, the correct procedure is given by option D) Invert the second fraction and multiply. This method is also known as finding the reciprocal of the second fraction. To illustrate this, consider the division of two fractions, ½ divided by ⅓. You would invert the second fraction to get 3/1 and then multiply this reciprocal with the first fraction: ½ × 1/3 = 1/2 × 3/1 = 3/2 or 1⅓. This process effectively changes division into multiplication, allowing you to use the straightforward rule of multiplying numerators together and denominators together to find the answer.