Question

How do you solve `\frac { 1} { 2} \div \frac { - 5} { 7}`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, rewrite the expression as: `(1/2)/((-5)/7)`

Now, use this rule for dividing fractions:

`(color(red)(a)/color(blue)(b))/(color(green)(c)/color(purple)(d)) = (color(red)(a) xx color(purple)(d))/(color(blue)(b) xx color(green)(c))`

`(color(red)(1)/color(blue)(2))/(color(green)(-5)/color(purple)(7)) => (color(red)(1) xx color(purple)(7))/(color(blue)(2) xx color(green)(-5)) => 7/-10 => -7/10`