Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools

Navigation

You are here: Home › Maths › Fractions › Dividing Fractions

Dividing Fractions

There are 3 simple steps to multiply fractions:

1. Turn the fraction you wish to divide by upside down (the inverse reciprocal).

2. Multiply the first fraction by the inverse reciprocal of the second.

3. Simplify the fraction.

Example 1

1

 

1

---

 ÷ 

---

2

 

4


Step 1. Turn the fraction you wish to divide by upside down (the inverse reciprocal).

1

 

4

---

 =>

---

4

 

1


Step 2. Multiply the first fraction by the inverse reciprocal of the second.

1

 

4

 

1 × 4

 

4

---

 × 

---

 = 

------

 = 

---

2

 

1

 

2 × 1

 

2


Step 3. Simplify the fraction

4

 

  2

---

 = 

2

 





Example 2

1

 

1

---

 ÷ 

---

8

 

4


Step 1. Turn the fraction you wish to divide by upside down (the inverse reciprocal).

1

 

4

---

 =>

---

4

 

1


Step 2. Multiply the first fraction by the inverse reciprocal of the second.

1

 

4

 

1 × 4

 

4

---

 × 

---

 = 

-----

 = 

---

8

 

1

 

8 × 1

 

8


Step 3. Simplify the fraction

4

 

1

---

 = 

---

8

 

2


Document Actions