Dividing Mixed Numbers: 1 1/4 Divided by 1 7/8
Dividing mixed numbers can seem daunting, but it's actually quite straightforward once you break it down. Let's tackle the problem of 1 1/4 divided by 1 7/8.
Converting to Improper Fractions
The first step is to convert our mixed numbers into improper fractions.
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1 1/4: Multiply the whole number (1) by the denominator (4) and add the numerator (1). Keep the same denominator. This gives us (1 * 4) + 1 = 5/4.
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1 7/8: Do the same process. (1 * 8) + 7 = 15/8.
Dividing Fractions
Now that we have improper fractions, we can proceed with the division. Remember that dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal.
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The reciprocal of 15/8 is 8/15.
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Our problem now becomes: 5/4 * 8/15.
Simplifying and Solving
We can simplify before multiplying by canceling out common factors:
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5 and 15 share a common factor of 5.
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4 and 8 share a common factor of 4.
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This leaves us with 1/1 * 2/3.
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Multiplying the numerators and denominators gives us: 2/3.
Answer
Therefore, 1 1/4 divided by 1 7/8 equals 2/3.