Fraction Division Made Fun
Dividing fractions is easier than you think!
Remember our magic trick: "Keep, Change, Flip!" We keep the first fraction, change the division to
multiplication,
and flip the second fraction upside down (this is called the reciprocal). Then we multiply straight
across!
The 3 Simple Steps
1️⃣ Keep the first fraction the same
2️⃣ Change the division sign to multiplication
3️⃣ Flip the second fraction upside down
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: Sharing Pizza Slices
You have \(\frac{3}{4}\) of a pizza and want to share it equally among 2 friends. How much pizza does each person get?
\(\frac{3}{4}\) ÷ 2 = \(\frac{3}{4}\) ÷ \(\frac{2}{1}\) = \(\frac{3}{4}\) × \(\frac{1}{2}\) = \(\frac{3}{8}\)
Each person gets ³⁄₈ of the pizza!
Example 2: Measuring Ingredients
A recipe needs \(\frac{2}{3}\) cup of flour, but you only have a \(\frac{1}{4}\) cup measuring cup. How many \(\frac{1}{4}\) cups do you need to equal \(\frac{2}{3}\) cup?
\(\frac{2}{3}\) ÷ \(\frac{1}{4}\) = \(\frac{2}{3}\) × \(\frac{4}{1}\) = \(\frac{8}{3}\) = 2\(\frac{2}{3}\)
You need 2 and \(\frac{2}{3}\) of the \(\frac{1}{4}\) cup measures!
Parent Tips 🌟
- Kitchen Math: Use measuring cups to demonstrate fraction division while cooking together - it makes learning practical and delicious!
- Flip Challenge: Turn fraction division into a game by writing problems on cards and racing to shout "flip it!" when you see a division sign.
- Real-world Problems: Create fraction division scenarios from everyday life, like sharing snacks or dividing up chores time.