6th Grade Math Textbook, Fundamentals

 &KDSWHU

5-10

Divide: 

reciprocals

•

 Simplify using the GCF.



 5 Divide.

1

2

10

1 1

5

• 
  

Multiply the numerators.

Multiply the denominators.

1 • 5

1 • 1

Rewrite division as multiplication

with the reciprocal of the divisor.

5

1

10

1

1

2

1

10

1

2

1

10

1

(^12)
Remember:^51 means 5 1.
Think

-^101  1

1

1

(^101)
1
1
Update your skills. See page 415 XVIII.
Divide Fractions
Objective To divide positive and negative fractions• To divide positive and negative fractions
in complex fraction form
The Swanson Running Track is 1 mile long. It is marked in
tenths of a mile from the starting line. How many -mile
sections are there in the first half of the track?
To find the number of -mile sections, divide by.

You can draw an area model to represent division

of fractions.

Divide: 

Draw a rectangle, and divide it into 2 equal parts

to represent halves.

Shade of the rectangle.

Divide the whole rectangle into 10 equal parts

to represent tenths.

Count the number of parts in the shaded.

There are 5, so 5.

There are 5 -mile sections in the first half of the track.

To divide fractions, multiply the reciprocalof the divisor by the dividend.

The of a number is its multiplicative inverse. Zero has no reciprocal.

• 1, when aand b 0

1

10

1

10

1

10

reciprocal

b

a

a

b

1

10

1

2

1

2

1

10

1

2

1

10

1

2

1

10

1

2

Key Concept

Divide Fractions

badc ba• , when cd b, c, d^0

1

2

1

10

1

10

1

10

1

10

1

10

1

10

1

10

1

10

1

10

1

10

Think

How many tenths are in?^12