Dividing Fractions By Whole Numbers
Multiply the bottom number of the fraction by the whole number.To Divide a Fraction by a Whole Number:
- Step 1. Multiply the bottom number of the fraction by the whole number
- Step 2. Simplify the fraction (if needed)
Example:
1
2
÷ 3
Step 1. Multiply the bottom number of the fraction by the whole number:
1 2 × 3
Which equals:
1 6
Step 2. Fraction is already as simple as possible, so no need for step 2.
Answer:
1 2 ÷ 3 = 1 6
With Pen and Paper
And here is how to do it with a pen and paper (press the play button):
Does it make sense?
Does 1 2 ÷ 3 really equal 1 6 ?
Well look at the pizzas below ...
When half a pizza is divided into 3 equal parts, each person gets one sixth of a whole pizza.
| A Half: | Divided by 3: | |||
 |
 |
Answer: 16 |
Another example:
Example:
2
5
÷ 4
Step 1. Multiply the bottom number of the fraction by the whole number:
2 5 × 4 = 2 20
Step 2. Simplify the fraction:
2 20 = 1 10
And that is all we have to do.