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Calculate 7/8 ÷ 3/4

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Fractions · Foundations

Step by step

The question

Question: work out 7/8 ÷ 3/4.

78 ÷ 34

1 Flip and multiply

Dividing by a fraction is the same as times its flip.

Keep the first number.

Change divide to times.

Turn the second fraction upside down.

÷ 34 → × 43

So 3/4 becomes 4/3, and divide becomes times.

= 78 × 43

2 Cancel first

Before we multiply, we make the numbers smaller.

4 on top and 8 at the bottom both divide by 4.

A top and a bottom divided by the same number: the answer stays the same.

4 and 8: ÷ 4 → 1 and 2

So we multiply smaller numbers.

= 72 × 13

3 Multiply tops and bottoms

To multiply fractions, we do top times top, and bottom times bottom.

= 7 × 12 × 3

7 times 1 is 7.

2 times 3 is 6.

= 76

Can we make it simpler?

No number goes into both 7 and 6, except 1.

So it stays like this.

simplest ✓

So the answer is 7/6.

Let's look back.

First: flip and multiply.

Then: cancel first.

Last: multiply tops and bottoms.

Answer
= 76

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

811 ÷ 47
Show the answer
1411

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