How to Divide Mixed Numbers
Dividing mixed numbers is very similar to multiplying them, but with the added step of taking the reciprocal of the second term before multiplying. This video shows two detailed examples of how to divide mixed numbers. Here is one example: First, convert each mixed number into a proper fraction. For example, 4 3/5 ÷ 2 1/3 would become 23/5 ÷ 7/3. Convert this to multiplication, take the second number and invert it: 3/7. Multiplying 23/5 by 3/7 gives you 69/35, which converts to 1 34/35.
Dividing mixed numbers is very similar to multiplying mixed numbers, but with the added step of taking the reciprocal of the second term before multiplying. Let’s take a look at these examples here. We have 4 3/5 divided by 2 1/3.
The first step is to convert each of these to an improper fraction. We have 5×4=20, plus 3 is 23, over five, divided by, 3×2=6, plus 1 is 7, over 3. To convert this to multiplication, we take the second number and invert it with the three on the top and the seven on the bottom. We have 23/5×3/7. This is equal to 23×3=69, over 5×7=35. 35 goes into 69 one time with the remainder 34. We have 1 34/35.
On the second problem we are going to do the same thing. We have 2×6=12, plus one is 13, over two, divided by, 4×3=12, plus three is 15, 15/4. Once again, we’re we’re going to invert the second fraction. We have 13/2×4/15. If you look at this, you can see that we can reduce by dividing this by two to get 1 and this by two to get 2. Our product is now going to be 13×2=26, over 1×15=15. 15 goes into 26 only one time with a remainder of 11. We have 1 11/15.