Question

In your own words, write the thought process (steps) that you go through to divide mixed numbers and fractions. Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: Step 5:

Answer 1

Consider a mixed number

`3(1)/(2)`

Let the given mixed number is divided 30

`30\text{ divided 3}(1)/(2)`

To divide mixed numbers the steps are follows

STEP 1 : write the whole number and the mixed number as a improper fraction

`\begin{gathered} (30)/(1)/((3*2)+1)/(2) \\ (30)/(1)/(7)/(2) \end{gathered}`

STEP2 :

write the reciprocal of divisor and multiply

`\begin{gathered} (30)/(1)*(2)/(7) \\ (30*2)/(1*7) \\ (60)/(7) \end{gathered}`

STEP3 : Simplify the fraction to nearest number of possible

STEP 4 : Perform the simple multiplication of the numerators and the denominators. Since 60 & 7 have no common factor,

STEP 5 : Put the answer in lowest terms, and check the answer. Our answer is already in lowest terms, so there is nothing left to do but check the answer, to be sure it makes sense. We can use estimation and rounding to do our check.