Math can be intimidating, especially when dealing with fractions and division. However, with the right explanation, even the most complex concepts can be broken down into simple, easy-to-understand terms.
In this article, we'll explore the concept of 9 divided by 1/2, and provide a clear, step-by-step explanation of how to solve this problem.
What does it mean to divide by a fraction?
Before we dive into the solution, let's take a moment to understand what it means to divide by a fraction. When you divide a number by a fraction, you're essentially asking how many times the fraction fits into the number.
For example, if you divide 12 by 1/4, you're asking how many quarters are in 12. The answer, of course, is 48. But why? Because each quarter is equal to 1/4 of a whole, and 12 is equal to 48 quarters.
How to divide 9 by 1/2
Now that we understand what it means to divide by a fraction, let's apply this concept to our problem: 9 divided by 1/2.
Image:
To solve this problem, we can use the following steps:
Step 1: Convert the fraction to a decimal
To make things easier, let's convert the fraction 1/2 to a decimal. To do this, we simply divide the numerator (1) by the denominator (2).
1 ÷ 2 = 0.5
Image:
Step 2: Divide 9 by 0.5
Now that we have the decimal equivalent of 1/2, we can proceed to divide 9 by 0.5.
9 ÷ 0.5 = 18
Image:
And that's it! The answer to 9 divided by 1/2 is 18.
Why does this work?
To understand why this solution works, let's go back to our earlier explanation of what it means to divide by a fraction. When we divide 9 by 1/2, we're essentially asking how many halves are in 9.
Image:
Since each half is equal to 1/2 of a whole, we can see that 9 is equal to 18 halves. Therefore, the answer to 9 divided by 1/2 is indeed 18.
Real-world applications
So, why is it important to understand how to divide by fractions? In real-life scenarios, you may encounter problems that involve dividing a quantity by a fraction.
For example, let's say you're a chef, and you need to divide a recipe that serves 9 people into portions that serve 1/2 a person. How many portions can you make?
Image:
Using the steps we outlined earlier, you can calculate that you can make 18 portions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dividing by fractions may seem intimidating at first, but with the right explanation, it's actually quite simple. By converting the fraction to a decimal and then dividing, you can solve problems like 9 divided by 1/2 with ease.
Image:
We hope this explanation has been helpful in clarifying this concept for you. Do you have any questions or topics you'd like us to explore further? Let us know in the comments below!
Gallery of Dividing by Fractions
FAQ
What is dividing by a fraction?
+Dividing by a fraction is the process of dividing a number by a fraction, which is essentially asking how many times the fraction fits into the number.
How do you divide by a fraction?
+To divide by a fraction, you can convert the fraction to a decimal and then divide the number by the decimal equivalent.
What are some real-world applications of dividing by fractions?
+Dividing by fractions can be applied to real-world scenarios such as recipe portioning, measurement conversions, and more.