2 divided by 1 8

Guri Bee

less than a minute read

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23-10-2024

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2 Divided by 1/8: A Closer Look at Fractions and Division

The question "2 divided by 1/8" often trips people up, even those familiar with basic arithmetic. This is because it involves dividing by a fraction, which can feel counterintuitive. Let's break down the process and understand why the answer is not simply 2/8.

Understanding the Concept:

At its core, division represents splitting a whole into equal parts. When we divide 2 by 1/8, we are asking: "How many times does 1/8 fit into 2?"

Visual Representation:

Imagine a pizza cut into 8 slices. You have 2 whole pizzas, and each slice represents 1/8 of a pizza. How many slices (1/8s) do you have in total?

The Calculation:

To solve this, we can employ the "invert and multiply" rule. This means flipping the divisor (1/8) and then multiplying it by the dividend (2).

• Flip 1/8: This becomes 8/1.
• Multiply: 2 x 8/1 = 16/1 = 16

Therefore, 2 divided by 1/8 is equal to 16.

Why This Makes Sense:

Since each whole pizza contains 8 slices (1/8s), two pizzas contain 16 slices (1/8s). This aligns with our visual representation and the calculated answer.

Practical Applications:

This concept is important in various real-world scenarios:

• Cooking: If a recipe calls for 1/8 cup of butter, and you want to double the recipe, you need to divide 2 by 1/8 to find out how much butter you need.
• Measurement: You have a 2-foot long board and need to cut it into pieces that are 1/8 foot long. You can use this calculation to determine how many pieces you can make.

Conclusion:

Dividing by a fraction can be tricky, but by understanding the concept of splitting a whole into equal parts and applying the "invert and multiply" rule, we can solve this problem and gain a deeper understanding of fractions and division.