Question

Which fraction represents the solution to -7/12 / (-3/21) in simplest form?

1) -4 1/12
2) -1/12
3) 1/12
4) 4 1/12

Answer 1

The division -7/12 divided by (-3/21) simplifies to 49/12 since you multiply by the reciprocal of the second fraction. The solution is 4 1/12 in simplest form and as a mixed number.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking for the solution to the division of two fractions: -7/12 divided by (-3/21). To divide fractions, you multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction.

First, find the reciprocal of the second fraction:

• The reciprocal of -3/21 is -21/3, which simplifies to -7.

Next, multiply the first fraction by this reciprocal:

• -7/12 * -7 = 49/12.

To simplify this fraction, we divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (gcd). The gcd of 49 and 12 is 1, implying that the fraction is already in its simplest form.

Therefore, the solution in simplest form is 49/12, which can also be expressed as a mixed number: 4 with a remainder of 1, which is 4 1/12.