Dividing Fractions

A Visual Lesson

Some of you know what to do…

BUT most of you don’t know why.

True or False

• When you multiply a number by another number, your product will always be larger than your factors.

Multiplication with Whole Numbers

4 sets of 3

Multiplication with Fractions

1

2

2

3

2

6

True or False

• When you divide a number by another number, your quotient will always be smaller than your dividend.

Division with Whole Numbers

6 2 = ?How many sets of 2 fit into 6?

How many 1/2s go into 2/3?

Division with Fractions

True or False

• When you multiply a number by another number, your product will always be larger than your factors.

• When you divide a number by another number, your quotient will always be smaller than your dividend.

1

4

1

8

How many 1/8s make a 1/4?

1

2

Division as Equivalent Fractions

• Another thing you could do is ask yourself:

• How many 1/8 parts make up 1/4?

1

4

?

8

1

4

1

8 8

1x

1

4

8

1x

1 x 8

4 x 1

8

4

8

4

8 4 =

Need Proof?

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

x

D

C

D

C

A D

B C

C D

D C

x

x

A D

B C

C D

D C

x

x

A D

B Cx

CD

DC

A D

B Cx

You have half a carton of eggs.

How many of the eggs (each egg is 1/12 of the cartoon) can you fit into half a carton of eggs?

1/2 1/12 = 6OR1/2 * 12/1 = 12/2 = 6

Division as Equivalent Fractions

• Another thing you could do is ask yourself:

• How many 1/12 parts make up 1/2?

1

2

?

12