Dividing Fractions
Aligned to 6.NS.A.1 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
What this lesson teaches
Dividing by a fraction means asking 'how many of these fit?' The shortcut: multiply by the reciprocal (flip the second fraction).
Worked examples
Example 1
2/3 ÷ 3/4 → flip the second: 2/3 × 4/3 = 8/9. (How many 3/4s fit into 2/3? About 8/9 of one.)
Example 2
6 ÷ 1/4 → flip: 6 × 4 = 24. There are 24 quarter-cups in 6 cups.
Example 3
Dividing by a fraction less than 1 gives a bigger answer; dividing by a fraction bigger than 1 gives a smaller one. 5 ÷ 1/2 = 10, but 5 ÷ 2 = 2.5.
Practice questions
- Compute 4/5 ÷ 2/3.
- How many 1/4-cup scoops are in 3 cups?
- Compute 5 ÷ 1/2 and explain why the answer is bigger than 5.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
División de Fracciones
Dividir entre una fracción significa preguntarse '¿cuántas de éstas caben?'. El truco es: multiplica por el recíproco (voltea la segunda fracción).
Ejemplo 1: 2/3 ÷ 3/4 → voltea la segunda: 2/3 × 4/3 = 8/9. (¿Cuántas veces cabe 3/4 en 2/3? Aproximadamente 8/9 de una vez.)
Ejemplo 2: 6 ÷ 1/4 → voltea: 6 × 4 = 24. Hay 24 cuartos de taza en 6 tazas.
Ejemplo 3: Dividir entre una fracción menor que 1 da una respuesta mayor; dividir entre una mayor que 1 da una menor. 5 ÷ 1/2 = 10, pero 5 ÷ 2 = 2.5.
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