Chapter 7: Problem 78
perform the indicated operation and simplify. $$\frac{2}{x} \div \frac{8}{y}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
\frac{y}{4x}
Step by step solution
01
Understand Division of Fractions
To divide fractions, multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction. The reciprocal of a fraction is obtained by swapping the numerator and the denominator.
02
Identify the Reciprocal
The reciprocal of \(\frac{8}{y}\) is \(\frac{y}{8}\).
03
Multiply by the Reciprocal
Replace the division with multiplication by the reciprocal: \(\frac{2}{x} \times \frac{y}{8}\).
04
Multiply the Fractions
Multiply the numerators and the denominators separately: \(\frac{2 \times y}{x \times 8} = \frac{2y}{8x}\).
05
Simplify the Fraction
Simplify \(\frac{2y}{8x}\) by dividing the numerator and the denominator by the common factor, which is 2: \(\frac{2y \div 2}{8x \div 2} = \frac{y}{4x}\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Reciprocals
In mathematics, the reciprocal of a fraction is simply flipping the numerator (top part) and the denominator (bottom part) of the fraction. For example, the reciprocal of \(\frac{8}{y}\) is \(\frac{y}{8}\). This concept is essential when dividing fractions, as it allows us to turn the division into a multiplication problem.
To find the reciprocal of a fraction:
To find the reciprocal of a fraction:
- Swap the numerator and the denominator.
- Ensure that neither part of the fraction is zero, as zero does not have a reciprocal.
Fraction Multiplication
Once you have the reciprocal of the second fraction in a division problem, multiply it with the first fraction. This step transforms a division problem into a straightforward multiplication.
To multiply fractions:
To multiply fractions:
- Multiply the numerators (top parts) of the two fractions together.
- Multiply the denominators (bottom parts) of the two fractions together.
Simplifying Fractions
Simplifying a fraction means making it as simple as possible. This often involves reducing it to its lowest terms using common factors for the numerator and the denominator. For the fraction \(\frac{2y}{8x}\), we look for common factors. Both 2y and 8x are divisible by 2.
To simplify:
To simplify:
- Divide both the numerator and the denominator by the greatest common divisor (GCD).
- In our problem, the GCD of 2y and 8x is 2.