Basic Mathematics for College Students

3.3 Dividing Fractions 239

Fill in the blanks.

1. The of is.


2. To find the reciprocal of a fraction, the
   numerator and denominator.


3. The answer to a division is called the.


4. To simplify , we common factors of
   the numerator and denominator.


5. Fill in the blanks.
   a. To divide two fractions, the first
   fraction by the of the second fraction.

b.

6. a. What division problem is illustrated below?
   b. What is the answer?


7. Determine whether each quotient is positive or
   negative.You do not have to find the answer.

a. b.

8. Complete the table.



7

8

a

21

32

 b

1

4



3

4

Divide each

rectangle

into three

parts

1 2 3 7 8 9

4

5

6

10

11

12



1

2



2

3



1

2



CONCEPTS

2  2  3

2  3  5  7

12

5

5

12

VOCABULARY 9. a. Multiply and its reciprocal. What is the result?

b. Multiply and its reciprocal. What is the

result?

10. a. Find:
    b. Rewrite as multiplication by the reciprocal
    of 3, and find the result.
    c. Complete this statement: Division by 3 is the same
    as multiplication by.

Fill in the blanks to complete each solution.

11.



2



1

 3  9

1

1

 2  4

1



4  3 

9  



4 

9 

4

9



8

27



4

9



8

NOTATION

15  3

15  3

 (^35)
4
5
SECTION 3.3 STUDY SET
Number Opposite Reciprocal
6
 117
103

12.



5



5

1

 5  1

31  2 

1



5   1

31  2  5



25 

31 



25

31



1

25

31

 10 

25

31



10

Find the reciprocal of each number.See Example 1.

13. a. b. c. 10


14. a. b. c. 7


15. a. b. c.


16. a. b. c.

Divide. Simplify each quotient, if possible.See Example 2.

17. 
    
    
    
    18. 
        
    
    
    
    


18. 
    
    
    
    20. 
        
    
    
    
    

4

21



1

5

2

23



1

7

1

2



8

9

1

8



2

3

  21

1

5

13

2

  63

1

14

11

8



9

4

2

9



15

8

6

7

GUIDED PRACTICE