what is 5 divided by 1 2

Guri Bee

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20-10-2024

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5 Divided by 1/2: Understanding the Math Behind the Unexpected Result

You might have heard the saying "Dividing by a fraction is like multiplying by its reciprocal." But why is that? And what does it mean for something like 5 divided by 1/2? Let's break it down.

Understanding the Problem

When we ask "What is 5 divided by 1/2?", we're essentially asking: "How many times does 1/2 fit into 5?"

Visualizing the Solution

Imagine a pizza cut into 5 slices. Each slice represents 1 whole. Now, you want to cut each slice in half. You now have 10 pieces, each representing 1/2.

Since you started with 5 wholes, and now have 10 halves, you can see that 1/2 fits into 5 a total of 10 times.

Applying the Rule

The rule "Dividing by a fraction is like multiplying by its reciprocal" comes into play here. The reciprocal of 1/2 is 2/1 (or simply 2).

Therefore:

5 ÷ 1/2 = 5 x 2/1 = 10

Conclusion

5 divided by 1/2 is equal to 10. This might seem counterintuitive at first, but by understanding the concept of dividing by a fraction as multiplying by its reciprocal, and visualizing the problem, it becomes clear.

Additional Notes

This concept applies to all division problems involving fractions. Remember, the key is to find the reciprocal of the fraction you're dividing by and then multiply. This approach will make solving such problems much easier and more intuitive.