16 divided by 2/3

Guri Bee

less than a minute read

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20-10-2024

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16 Divided by 2/3: Unlocking the Mystery of Dividing by Fractions

Dividing by fractions can seem daunting, but it's actually a simple concept once you grasp the key idea: dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal.

Let's break down the problem of 16 divided by 2/3:

1. Understanding the Problem:

We want to find out how many times 2/3 fits into 16.

2. Finding the Reciprocal:

The reciprocal of a fraction is simply flipping the numerator and denominator. The reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2.

3. Multiplying by the Reciprocal:

Instead of dividing by 2/3, we'll multiply 16 by its reciprocal, 3/2.

4. The Calculation:

• 16 * (3/2) = (16 * 3) / 2 = 48 / 2 = 24

Therefore, 16 divided by 2/3 equals 24.

Why Does This Work?

Imagine you have 16 pizzas and want to divide them into pieces that are 2/3 of a whole pizza. Dividing by 2/3 tells you how many 2/3 pieces you'll get. Multiplying by the reciprocal (3/2) essentially asks: "How many 1/2 pieces are there in 2/3 of a pizza?" Since there are two 1/2 pieces in a 2/3 piece, you're essentially multiplying the number of pizzas by the number of 1/2 pieces in each 2/3 piece.

Real-World Applications:

This concept is useful in everyday situations:

• Cooking: If a recipe calls for 2/3 cup of flour and you want to make 16 servings, you need to calculate how much flour you'll need.
• Construction: If you have a 16-foot board and need to cut pieces that are 2/3 of a foot long, you can determine the number of pieces.

Additional Tips:

• Remember: Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal.
• Simplify: Before multiplying, simplify the fractions if possible.
• Practice: The more you practice dividing by fractions, the easier it will become.

By understanding the relationship between division and reciprocals, you can confidently solve problems involving dividing by fractions.