Chapter 5: Problem 33
Find each quotient. Use an area model if necessary. $$12 \div \frac{4}{9}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The quotient of \(12 \div \frac{4}{9}\) is 27.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem
The problem requires dividing a whole number, 12, by a fraction, \( \frac{4}{9} \). This is equivalent to determining how many times \( \frac{4}{9} \) fits into 12.
02
Reciprocate the Fraction
To divide by a fraction, we multiply by its reciprocal. The reciprocal of \( \frac{4}{9} \) is \( \frac{9}{4} \). Therefore, \( 12 \div \frac{4}{9} = 12 \times \frac{9}{4} \).
03
Convert Whole Number to a Fraction
Rewrite the whole number 12 as a fraction to simplify multiplication: \( \frac{12}{1} \).
04
Multiply the Fractions
Multiply the fractions: \( \frac{12}{1} \times \frac{9}{4} = \frac{12 \times 9}{1 \times 4} = \frac{108}{4} \).
05
Simplify the Fraction
Divide the numerator and the denominator of \( \frac{108}{4} \) by their greatest common divisor, which is 4: \( \frac{108 \div 4}{4 \div 4} = \frac{27}{1} \).
06
Convert the Fraction to a Whole Number
Since \( \frac{27}{1} \) is equivalent to 27, the quotient is 27.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Reciprocal
Understanding what a reciprocal is can greatly simplify division issues involving fractions. A reciprocal of a number is essentially what you multiply that number by to get the value of 1.
For a fraction, this means flipping the fraction upside down. Thus, the reciprocal of \( \frac{a}{b} \) is \( \frac{b}{a} \). With this understanding, we can transform division into a much easier multiplication problem.
For a fraction, this means flipping the fraction upside down. Thus, the reciprocal of \( \frac{a}{b} \) is \( \frac{b}{a} \). With this understanding, we can transform division into a much easier multiplication problem.
- Take the fraction you want to find the reciprocal for. For example, \( \frac{4}{9} \).
- Flip it, so the numerator becomes the denominator and vice versa, making it \( \frac{9}{4} \).
Multiplication of Fractions
Once you've found the reciprocal of a fraction during a division problem, the next step is to multiply. Multiplying fractions is straightforward compared to other operations. Here's how you do it:
- First, express the whole number as a fraction. In the case of 12, this becomes \( \frac{12}{1} \).
- Then, multiply the numerators together and the denominators together. This means for multiplying \( \frac{12}{1} \times \frac{9}{4} \), you calculate \( 12 \times 9 \) for the top of the fraction and \( 1 \times 4 \) for the bottom.
- This results in \( \frac{108}{4} \).
Simplifying Fractions
After multiplying fractions, the answer may not always be in its simplest form. Simplifying fractions ensures the answer is clean and concise. Here's how you do it:
- Identify the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the fraction's numerator and denominator. In our example, the fraction we got was \( \frac{108}{4} \).
- The GCD of 108 and 4 is 4. Divide both the numerator and the denominator by the GCD: \( \frac{108 \div 4}{4 \div 4} \).
- This simplification reduces the fraction to \( \frac{27}{1} \) which is simply 27.