close
close
what is 1/6 divided by 3

what is 1/6 divided by 3

less than a minute read 20-10-2024
what is 1/6 divided by 3

Unlocking the Mystery of 1/6 Divided by 3

Dividing fractions can feel like a tricky puzzle, but it's actually quite straightforward once you understand the concepts. Let's dive into the question: What is 1/6 divided by 3?

Understanding Division of Fractions

The key to understanding division of fractions lies in the fact that dividing by a number is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. The reciprocal of a number is simply 1 divided by that number.

For example: The reciprocal of 3 is 1/3.

Solving the Problem

  1. Identify the reciprocal of 3: The reciprocal of 3 is 1/3.

  2. Rewrite the division problem as multiplication: Instead of 1/6 divided by 3, we can write it as 1/6 multiplied by 1/3.

  3. Multiply the numerators and the denominators:

    • (1 x 1) = 1 (Numerator)
    • (6 x 3) = 18 (Denominator)
  4. The answer: Therefore, 1/6 divided by 3 is equal to 1/18.

Additional Notes

  • This concept is often represented by the mnemonic "Keep, Change, Flip". We keep the first fraction, change the division to multiplication, and flip the second fraction.

  • You can visualize this by imagining 1/6 of a pizza. If you want to divide that slice into 3 equal parts, each part will be 1/18 of the whole pizza.

Practical Applications

Understanding division of fractions has various practical applications in everyday life, such as:

  • Cooking: If you need to halve a recipe that calls for 1/6 cup of sugar, you'd divide 1/6 by 2 (which is the same as multiplying by 1/2) to find out how much sugar you need.
  • Sharing Resources: If you have 1/6 of a pie and want to share it equally with 3 people, you'd divide 1/6 by 3 to determine how much each person gets.
  • Measuring Fabric: Tailoring projects might involve dividing fabric lengths in fractional amounts, requiring knowledge of fraction division.

Conclusion

By understanding the concept of reciprocals and how to rewrite division as multiplication, you can confidently solve division of fractions problems. Remember, practice makes perfect, and the more you work with fractions, the more comfortable you'll become with them!

Related Posts


Latest Posts