DIVISION: Example 1

Rule 16: To divide three or more fractions, complete the following three steps.

1.

Change the signs to and invert the fractions to the right of the signs.

2.

Multiply the numerators.

3.

Multiply the denominators.

4.

Reduce the results. (See Rule 10)

a.: Factor the product of the numerators.
b.: Factor the product of the denominators.
c.

Example 1: Multiply 9 tex2html_wrap_inline61

and reduce the answer.

Answer: The answer is

Solution: Convert the 9 to the fraction

so that the problem reads tex2html_wrap_inline67

Change the division signs to multiplication signs and invert the fractions to the right of the signs.

Multiply the numerators and the denominators, but leave them in factored form.

Factor the numerator and the denominator and look for the fractions that have a value of 1.

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Check: You can check the answer with your calculator. Use the following steps on your calculator to calculate the value of the original problem: 9

(18

10). Now calculate 40 divided by 9. If you are correct, the answers are the same (equivalent) and you have successfully performed a division problem with two fractions and a whole number.

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Author: Nancy Marcus