6 divided by 2/5

Guri Bee

less than a minute read

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20-10-2024

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Dividing by Fractions: Unveiling the Mystery of 6 ÷ 2/5

Many of us remember our school days filled with fractions, but the act of dividing by a fraction can be a bit tricky. Today, we'll tackle a classic problem: 6 ÷ 2/5. This seemingly simple equation often throws people for a loop, but fear not! We'll unravel the mystery step-by-step, making this concept clear as day.

Understanding the Problem

Before diving into the solution, let's understand what the question is asking. "6 ÷ 2/5" translates to "How many groups of 2/5 can fit into 6?" Imagine you have 6 pizzas, and each group of people eats 2/5 of a pizza. How many groups can you feed?

The Flip and Multiply Trick

Here's the magic trick that solves our problem: Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal.

• Reciprocal: The reciprocal of a fraction is simply flipping it. So, the reciprocal of 2/5 is 5/2.

Now our problem becomes:

6 ÷ 2/5 = 6 x 5/2

Calculating the Solution

1. Multiply the numerators (top numbers): 6 x 5 = 30
2. Multiply the denominators (bottom numbers): 1 x 2 = 2
3. Simplify the result: 30/2 = 15

Therefore, 6 ÷ 2/5 = 15

Practical Application

This concept is useful in various real-life scenarios:

• Baking: If a recipe calls for 2/5 cup of flour, but you have 6 cups, you can easily determine how many batches you can make.
• Construction: If a builder needs 2/5 meters of lumber for each shelf, and they have 6 meters in total, they can calculate the number of shelves they can build.

Key Takeaways

• Dividing by a fraction is equivalent to multiplying by its reciprocal.
• The reciprocal of a fraction is found by flipping it.
• This concept applies to various real-life problems.

Attribution:

This article was inspired by the discussions and insights found on GitHub.

Let me know if you have any other fraction problems you'd like to solve!