Intermediate Test Prep Math 8 (Grade 6) Dividing Fractions

There are many ways to divide fractions:

Here is another "shortcut" for dividing fractions: the common denominator method!

Remember what a common or like denominator is?

When both fractions have the same denominators, they are called common denominators.

examples: ⅝ and ⅜ have common denominators (8)

and ¾ and ¼ have common denominators (4)

Instead of this lesson showing you the "shortcut", let's see if you can figure it out after having looked at some examples! Ready?
⅓ ÷ ⅔ = ½	⅝ ÷ ⅞ = 5/7
¾ ÷ ¼ = 3/1 = 3	7/9 ÷ 8/9 = 7/8
⅝ ÷ ⅜ = 5/3 or 1 2/3	4/5 ÷ 8/5 = 4/8 = ½

Did you figure
out the pattern?

Let's try some harder problems: what about mixed numbers?
5⅔ ÷ 2⅓ = 17/3 ÷ 7/3	They both have 3 as a denominator, so it will work (after you change them to improper fractions, of course).
5⅔ ÷ 2⅓ = 17/3 ÷ 7/3 = 17/7 = 2 3/7

So the "shortcut" works every time that you have common denominators in your fractions. YES!!!

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