2/5 divided by 1/2

Guri Bee

2 min read

·

20-10-2024

1

0

Share

Unraveling the Mystery: Why 2/5 Divided by 1/2 Equals 4/5

Dividing fractions can seem like a daunting task, especially when you're dealing with seemingly simple fractions like 2/5 and 1/2. But fear not! We're going to break down this problem step-by-step, uncovering the logic behind the answer: 4/5.

Understanding the Concept

Dividing by a fraction is essentially asking "How many times does the divisor fit into the dividend?" In our case, we're asking: "How many times does 1/2 fit into 2/5?"

To visualize this, imagine you have a pizza cut into 5 slices. You have 2 of these slices (2/5 of the pizza). Now, let's say you want to divide these slices into halves (1/2). How many halves will you have?

The "Flip and Multiply" Method

While visualizing the pizza might help, there's a more systematic approach to solving this problem. This involves a handy trick: flipping the divisor and multiplying it by the dividend.

Here's how it works:

1. Flip the divisor: 1/2 becomes 2/1.
2. Multiply the flipped divisor by the dividend: (2/5) * (2/1) = 4/5

Why does this work?

The "flip and multiply" method actually stems from the concept of reciprocals. The reciprocal of a number is the number you multiply it by to get 1. For example, the reciprocal of 2/1 is 1/2 because (2/1) * (1/2) = 1.

When dividing by a fraction, we're essentially multiplying by its reciprocal. This is because dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its inverse.

The Answer

Therefore, 2/5 divided by 1/2 equals 4/5. This means that 1/2 fits into 2/5 four out of five times.

Additional Resources

• Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/arithmetic/fractions/dividing-fractions/v/dividing-fractions-2 provides a detailed explanation and examples.

• Math is Fun: https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/dividing-fractions.html offers a visual representation of the concept.

Key Takeaways

• Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal.
• The "flip and multiply" method is a simple and effective way to solve division problems involving fractions.

By understanding the logic behind the "flip and multiply" method and the concept of reciprocals, you can confidently tackle any division problems involving fractions, no matter how complex they may seem.