How to Divide a Fraction by Another Fraction or by an Integer
Learn how to divide a fraction by another fraction or by an integer
Jason Marshall, PhD
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To divide a fraction by another fraction, just remember to invert and multiply. In other words, invert (or flip) the numerator and denominator of the fraction on the bottom of the division problem and multiply it by the fraction on the top of the division problem. For example, in the problem (3/5) / (2/3), start by inverting the fraction on the bottom of the division problem to get the new fraction 3/2. Then multiply this by the fraction on the top of the division problem to get the answer: 3/5 x 3/2 = (3 x 3) / (5 x 2) = 9/10.
To divide a fraction by an integer, just remember that you can write any integer as a fraction that has a denominator of 1. For example, the problem (5/3) / 4 can also be written (5/3) / (4/1). Once it’s written this way, simply invert and multiply to get the answer: 5/3 x 1/4 = (5 x 1) / (3 x 4) = 5/12.
For more, see How To Divide Fractions Using Invert and Multiply
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About the Author
Jason Marshall is the author of The Math Dude’s Quick and Dirty Guide to Algebra. He provides clear explanations of math terms and principles, and his simple tricks for solving basic algebra problems will have even the most math-phobic person looking forward to working out whatever math problem comes their way.