DIVIDING

FRACTIONS

7TH GRADE MATH

AUGUST, 2013
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A
“RECIPROCAL”?
• Reciprocal:
– When two fractions are multiplied, and their
product is 1.
– AKA “inverting” or “flipping” a number
• Examples:

– The reciprocal of ½ is _______.

– The reciprocal of ¾ is _______.

– The reciprocal of 8 is ________.

 DIVIDING FRACTIONS

• Remember these three words:

–KEEP, CHANGE, RECIPROCAL

• KEEP First fraction

• CHANGE Division to multiplication
• RECIPROCAL of last fraction
• Multiply and Simplify
 NOTES: Dividing Fractions
VOCAB: The product of a fraction and its reciprocal (or
multiplicative inverse) is 1.
…To make a reciprocal, flip the fraction upside down!

1. Rewrite in fraction form – Turn mixed #’s &

whole #’s into improper fractions!
2. Multiply by the reciprocal.
**Keep It – Change It – Flip It Method
3. As always…SIMPLIFY!

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NOTES: Dividing Fractions

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EXAMPLES: Dividing Fractions
1 1 1 3 3 1
     1
2 3 2 1 2 2
3 2 4 8 2
2     2
4 1 3 3 3
3 1 3 3 13 2 2
1     
5 2 5 2 5 31 5
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EXAMPLES: Dividing Fractions
4 1 4 3 4 1
1
 3    1
9 3 9 1 3 3
4 4 4 76 1 4 9 9
8     
7 9 7 9 7 76 19 133
5
7 2 15 12 15 5 25
1 2     
8 5 8 5 8 12 4 32
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THANK YOU!