Conversion a mixed number 3 1/
2
to a improper fraction: 3 1/2 = 3 1/
2
= 3 · 2 + 1/
2
= 6 + 1/
2
= 7/
2
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 3 by the denominator 2. Whole number 3 equally 3 * 2/
2
= 6/
2
b) Add the answer from previous step 6 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 6 + 1 = 7
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 7) over the denominator 2.
Three and one half is seven halfs
Conversion a mixed number 2 1/
2
to a improper fraction: 2 1/2 = 2 1/
2
= 2 · 2 + 1/
2
= 4 + 1/
2
= 5/
2
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 2 by the denominator 2. Whole number 2 equally 2 * 2/
2
= 4/
2
b) Add the answer from previous step 4 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 4 + 1 = 5
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 5) over the denominator 2.
Two and one half is five halfs
Divide: 7/
2
: 5/
2
= 7/
2
· 2/
5
= 7 · 2/
2 · 5
= 14/
10
= 2 · 7 /
2 · 5
= 7/
5
Dividing two fractions is the same as multiplying the first fraction by the reciprocal value of the second fraction. The first sub-step is to find the reciprocal (reverse the numerator and denominator, reciprocal of 5/
2
is 2/
5
) of the second fraction. Next, multiply the two numerators. Then, multiply the two denominators. In the following intermediate step, cancel by a common factor of 2 gives 7/
5
.
In other words - seven halfs divided by five halfs = seven fifths.c