1/3 divided by 5

Guri Bee

2 min read

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20-10-2024

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Unraveling the Mystery of 1/3 Divided by 5: A Step-by-Step Guide

Dividing fractions can be a bit tricky, especially when you throw a whole number into the mix. But fear not! We're about to break down the process of dividing 1/3 by 5, and by the end, you'll be confidently tackling similar problems.

Understanding the Concept

The question "1/3 divided by 5" can be rephrased as "what is one-third split into five equal parts?"

This question often leads to confusion, but the key is remembering that dividing by a number is the same as multiplying by its inverse.

The Solution

1. Find the reciprocal of 5: The reciprocal of 5 is 1/5. This is because 5 multiplied by 1/5 equals 1.

2. Multiply 1/3 by the reciprocal of 5: (1/3) * (1/5) = 1/15

Therefore, 1/3 divided by 5 is equal to 1/15.

Visualizing the Solution

Imagine a pie cut into three equal slices. We take one of those slices (1/3) and divide it into five equal parts. Each of these smaller parts represents 1/15 of the whole pie.

Additional Tips

• Remember the reciprocal: Finding the reciprocal of a whole number is simply writing it as a fraction with 1 as the numerator.
• Practice makes perfect: Try dividing other fractions by whole numbers using this method. You'll get the hang of it!

Example:

Let's say you have 2/5 of a pizza and you want to share it equally among 4 friends. To find out how much pizza each friend gets, you would divide 2/5 by 4:

• Reciprocal of 4: 1/4
• Multiply: (2/5) * (1/4) = 2/20
• Simplify: 2/20 = 1/10

Therefore, each friend would get 1/10 of the pizza.

Let's wrap it up: Dividing fractions by whole numbers might seem daunting, but by understanding the concept of reciprocals and following the steps, you can solve these problems with confidence. So, next time you encounter a fraction division, remember to find that reciprocal and multiply!

Sources:

• Github Discussion on Fraction Division - Replace this with a relevant Github link if available.
• Khan Academy Lesson on Dividing Fractions
• Math is Fun: Dividing Fractions