As we know a fraction is a part of a whole number. Division means sharing an item equally among groups. 

Fraction has two parts: its upper part is known as a numerator and the lower part is known as a denominator. 

Today we will learn about the division of fractions. When we divtopicIde one fraction with another first we reciprocal the second fraction and multiply it with the first one. In order to learn the division of fractions first, we need to know what is reciprocal. 

Reciprocal of a number. 

Reciprocal of a number means inverse. 

For example, If 2/9 is given. The reciprocal will be 9/2 ( here we inverse eight, which means the numerator becomes the denominator and the denominator becomes the numerator).

Example 1: Find the reciprocal of the given fraction: 3/9 

The reciprocal of 3/9 will be 9/3. 

Example 2: Find the reciprocal of 13

The reciprocal of 13 will be 1/13. 

Since we have understood the concept of reciprocal now it will be easier for us to understand the division of fractions. 

Division of fractions. 

First, you have to take the first fraction of division. The next step is to reciprocal the second part of the fraction and multiply and the last step is to simplify the fractions. In short, you have to keep the first fraction as it is and then change the division sign to multiplication. Then you need to reciprocal second fractions and simplify them to get the result.

Example 3:      4/9 &divtopicIde; 2/6 

                      = 4/9 *  6/2 ( here we have put a multiplication sign and reciprocal the second fraction)

                      = 2*2/ 3  (here we have simplified two and four and six and nine)

                      = 4/3 

Division of a fraction or fractional division using a whole number

When a whole number is there, follow a simple rule that the number divtopicIded by one is the number itself. So whenever a division of a fraction has to be done by a whole number, then first we need to convert the whole number into a fraction. 

This can be achieved by using a denominator and one. Then the next step is to reciprocal the second part of a fraction and multiply and the last step is a simplification. 

Example 4: DivtopicIde 6/7 &divtopicIde; 5

                   = 6/7 &divtopicIde; 5/1

                   = 6/7 * 1 /5

                   = 6/35 

Example 5:  DivtopicIde 9 &divtopicIde; 1 /4 

                   = 9/1 * 4/1 

                   = 36/ 1 

                   = 36 

Easy steps to remember division fractions:

Reciprocal the second part of fraction ( inverse the fraction that means the numerator will become the denominator and the denominator will become the numerator)

Change the division sign to multiplication once the reciprocal is done.

Do the simplification of the fraction now and get your result.

Division of fractions by a mixed number or a mixed fraction:

In order to do the division by a mixed fraction, we first need to convert the mixed fraction to an improper fraction. And divtopicIde them as per our steps of a division of fractions. The other part is the same. 

   3/5   &divtopicIde; 1 ⅜ 

= 3 /5  * 11/8 

= 33/ 40