Question

Do you know why when dividing a fraction by a fraction, you flip and multiple? What does dividing a fraction by a fraction really mean?

Answer 1

When dividing a fraction by another fraction, we flip the second fraction and multiply the two fractions together. Division is the opposite of multiplication, so we use the reciprocal to convert division into multiplication.

Step-by-step explanation:

Why do we flip and multiply when dividing fractions?

When dividing a fraction by another fraction, we flip the second fraction and multiply the two fractions together. This is because division is the opposite of multiplication. Multiplying by a fraction's reciprocal is equivalent to dividing. By flipping the second fraction, we can multiply instead of dividing. Let's see an example:

Example: Divide 3/4 by 2/3

1. Flip the second fraction: 2/3 becomes 3/2
2. Multiply the fractions: (3/4) * (3/2) = 9/8

So, 3/4 divided by 2/3 equals 9/8.

Answer 2

Because dividing is basically multiply by the inverse.

Step-by-step explanation:

Much like negating a number from a number is adding the later one to the flipped sign of the earlier number, dividing a fraction by a fraction means you multiply the later by the inverse of the earlier. To find the inverse of a fraction, you flip it upside down.