Dividing Fractions

This week, I'm focusing on how to divide fractions. Dividing fractions is probably the trickiest topic I've focused on so far -- and it took me a few minutes to refresh my memory. After looking at a few websites and watching a few videos on YouTube, I figured out how to quickly divide fractions, as well as how to break it down into simple steps for elementary students to follow. While researching various resources online, I came across this video, which I found to be very helpful: Dividing Fractions

After watching the video and looking at online resources, I know it's easiest to divide fractions by focusing on the "keep, change, flip" method. This means:

1) Keep the first fraction as is
2) Change the operation from division to multiplication
3) Flip the last fraction so the numerator becomes the denominator, and the denominator becomes the numerator. For example, 3/5 would then become 5/3.

After following the steps above, you can continue by simply multiplying the fractions and then simplifying at the end. So...let's try an example!

3/4 divided by 5/8 = ___

The first step is to keep the first fraction as is. Easy. 3/4 stays the same. The next step is to change the operation from division to multiplication. The last step is to flip the second fraction. After following all of these steps, my new equation should read: 3/4 x 8/5 -- and now it's the same as multiplying fractions!

3x8=24
4x5=20
24/20 = 1 1/5

This is a problem set I found while googling some worksheets for dividing fractions. This example shows the "keep, change, flip" method nicely in red.

Just like we did above in our own example, this snapshot shows the different steps required to divide fractions. It helps to write it out the same way as it's done in the above picture because it ensures that you aren't missing any important steps. In the first example of 1/4 divided by 2/3, we can see how the "keep, change, flip" method is being used. The first fraction looks the same in red, the division sign is changed to multiplication in red, and the second fraction of 2/3 is flipped to 3/2 in red. After these steps are completed, all that's left to do is to multiply the fraction, and simplify if necessary.

Both of the aforementioned resources helped me figure how to divide fractions again with ease! Every week, I continue to learn that fractions do not need to be so scary for students. It's all about approaching the topic with visual representations and simple steps.