How do you divide #2\frac { 1} { 2} \div 3\frac { 1} { 8}#?

1 Answer
Dec 9, 2016

#4/5#

Explanation:

First, we need to convert the mixed fractions to improper fractions:

#(2/2)*2 + 1/2 -: (8/8)*3 + 1/8#

#4/2 + 1/2 -: 24/8 + 1/8#

#5/2 -: 25/8#

We can now rewrite this as:

#(5/2)/(25/8)#

Using the rule for dividing fractions (#color(red)((a/b)/(c/d) = (a*d)/(b*c)))# gives:

#(5*8)/(2*25) -> 40/50 -> (10/10)*(4/5) -> 4/5#