How do you divide 1/2 div 1/8?

1 Answer
Oct 20, 2016

4

Explanation:

To divide by a fraction:

Change the div to xx and flip the fraction which follows.

This means " multiply by the reciprocal"

We see this in every day life where:

"dividing something by 2," is the same as finding "half of it"

12 div 2 = 12 xx 1/2 = 1/2 xx 12 = 6

In this case we have:

1/2 div 1/8

= 1/2 xx8/1

= 1/cancel2 xxcancel8^4/1

=4

[This actually means there are 4 portions of 1/8 each in 1/2]