7/8 divided by 5

Guri Bee

less than a minute read

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18-10-2024

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Unpacking the Mystery: 7/8 Divided by 5

Dividing fractions can seem intimidating, but with the right understanding, it becomes surprisingly straightforward. Let's tackle the problem of 7/8 divided by 5, breaking it down step-by-step.

Understanding the Concept

Before diving into the calculation, let's grasp the fundamental concept of division. Division is essentially asking "how many times does one number fit into another?" In our case, we want to know how many times 5 fits into 7/8.

The Key: Reciprocal Magic

The trick to dividing by a whole number is to turn it into a fraction and then multiply by its reciprocal. The reciprocal of a number is simply 1 divided by that number.

So, for 5:

• Reciprocal of 5 = 1/5

Putting It All Together

Now, let's apply this knowledge to our problem:

1. Rewrite the whole number as a fraction: 5 becomes 5/1.
2. Find the reciprocal of the denominator: The reciprocal of 5/1 is 1/5.
3. Multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second: 7/8 * 1/5 = 7/40

The Answer: 7/8 divided by 5 is equal to 7/40.

Practical Example: Sharing a Pizza

Imagine you have a pizza cut into 8 slices, and you want to share 7 of those slices equally among 5 friends. How much pizza does each friend get?

This translates to 7/8 divided by 5, which we now know is 7/40. Therefore, each friend gets 7/40 of the entire pizza.

Additional Notes:

• Converting to Decimal: If you prefer decimal representation, you can convert 7/40 to approximately 0.175. This means each friend gets roughly 17.5% of the whole pizza.
• Simplifying Fractions: Sometimes, the resulting fraction can be simplified. In this case, 7/40 is already in its simplest form.

Conclusion:

By applying the concept of reciprocals and converting whole numbers into fractions, dividing fractions by whole numbers becomes a much simpler task. Remember, breaking down the problem into manageable steps helps make the process clear and accessible.