Why do we invert and multiply? Dividing Fractions Why do we invert and multiply? or multiply by the reciprocal? or flip and multiply?

Consider the following division 3/4 ÷ 1/8 Think! What happens when we divide by 1? Aha!

So, lets look at ¾ ÷ ⅛ as a complex division Think! What can we multiply by to make it =1? Yes! Multiply by to make it =1?

Remember! if you multiply the denominator by , you must do the same to the numerator Let’s try another one….

So, lets look at as a complex division Think! What can we multiply by to make it =1? Yes! Multiply by to make it =1?

Now that we understand the “why”, Remember! if you multiply the denominator by , you must do the same to the numerator Now that we understand the “why”, let’s try “multiplying by the reciprocal”.

multiply by the reciprocal Lets look at multiply by the reciprocal This is why we invert and multiply, or multiply by the reciprocal, or flip and multiply. It works! Remember to express your answer as a mixed fraction and reduce to the lowest terms.