Dividing a mixed number by a whole number can seem tricky at first, but it becomes straightforward once you understand the steps involved. Here’s how you can do it:
- Convert the mixed number to an improper fraction: A mixed number consists of a whole part and a fractional part (e.g., 2 1/3). To convert it to an improper fraction, multiply the whole number by the denominator of the fraction and add the numerator. For 2 1/3, it would be (2 * 3) + 1 = 7, making the improper fraction 7/3.
- Write the fraction of the whole number as a fraction: Any whole number can be written as a fraction by placing it over 1. For example, if you were dividing by 4, you would write it as 4/1.
- Multiply by the reciprocal: Instead of dividing, you can multiply by the reciprocal of the whole number’s fraction. The reciprocal of 4/1 is 1/4. So, your equation now looks like this: (7/3) * (1/4).
- Multiply the fractions: Now, multiply the numerators and the denominators: (7 * 1) / (3 * 4) = 7/12.
- Convert back to a mixed number if needed: If you want to express the result as a mixed number and it’s an improper fraction, you can divide the numerator by the denominator. In this example, 7/12 is already a proper fraction, so no conversion is needed.
So, dividing 2 1/3 by 4 gives you 7/12. With practice, dividing mixed numbers by whole numbers will become second nature!