Q&A for How to Do Fractions

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

How do you divide fractions?

David Jia
Math Tutor
David Jia is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of LA Math Tutoring, a private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. With over 10 years of teaching experience, David works with students of all ages and grades in various subjects, as well as college admissions counseling and test preparation for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and more. After attaining a perfect 800 math score and a 690 English score on the SAT, David was awarded the Dickinson Scholarship from the University of Miami, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Additionally, David has worked as an instructor for online videos for textbook companies such as Larson Texts, Big Ideas Learning, and Big Ideas Math.

David Jia

Math Tutor

Expert Answer

When you're dividing fractions, flip the second fraction upside down, then multiply the tops and bottoms of the two fractions together. This is called taking the reciprocal.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 2
Question

How do you add and subtract fractions?

David Jia
Math Tutor
David Jia is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of LA Math Tutoring, a private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. With over 10 years of teaching experience, David works with students of all ages and grades in various subjects, as well as college admissions counseling and test preparation for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and more. After attaining a perfect 800 math score and a 690 English score on the SAT, David was awarded the Dickinson Scholarship from the University of Miami, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Additionally, David has worked as an instructor for online videos for textbook companies such as Larson Texts, Big Ideas Learning, and Big Ideas Math.

David Jia

Math Tutor

Expert Answer

To add and subtract fractions, you always have to find a common denominator. For example, if you need to add 1/6 and 1/2, you can't just add the tops and bottoms together. Instead, you have to find a common denominator. In this case, you can multiply the top and bottom of 1/2 by 3 to get 3/6. Then, you can add 1/6 and 3/6 to get 4/6, which you can simplify to 2/3.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2
Question

What is a fraction?

David Jia
Math Tutor
David Jia is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of LA Math Tutoring, a private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. With over 10 years of teaching experience, David works with students of all ages and grades in various subjects, as well as college admissions counseling and test preparation for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and more. After attaining a perfect 800 math score and a 690 English score on the SAT, David was awarded the Dickinson Scholarship from the University of Miami, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Additionally, David has worked as an instructor for online videos for textbook companies such as Larson Texts, Big Ideas Learning, and Big Ideas Math.

David Jia

Math Tutor

Expert Answer

Fractions are a form of division—the numerator is being divided by the denominator. For example, 3/4 is the same as 3 divided by 4.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
Question

How do I work out 6 2/3 multiplied by 1 7/8?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Convert each mixed number to an improper fraction, then multiply as usual.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 22 Helpful 76
Question

What is 1 7/10 - 9/10?

Community Answer

17/10 - 9/10 = 8/10. simplified to 4/5.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 20 Helpful 65
Question

How do I learn fractions quickly?

Community Answer

Keep learning and studying them until you know them. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 12 Helpful 26
Question

What is 2/6 of 120?

Community Answer

Divide 120 by 6 = 20 x 2 = 40. Easier to change the 2/6 to 1/3 then just divide 120 by 3 = 40.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 22 Helpful 31
Question

If a shop has five different sandwiches and 2/5 are ham, 1/4 cheese, 1/8 cucumber, 1/5 chicken with the rest being tuna, how many sandwiches could the shop have in stock?

Community Answer

40 sandwiches in stock. 2/5 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/5 = 39/40, so, 16 ham; 10 cheese; 5 cucumber; 8 chicken' and 1 tuna.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 37 Helpful 51
Question

How do I work out 33/4 x 24/5?

LyKaxandra Caimoy

Community Answer

33/4 × 24/5 = 33×24 / 4×5 = 792/20 or 198/5. 792/20=(700/20)+(92/20)=(35+4)+12/20=39+12/20 or 198/5=(100/5)+(98/5)=(20+19)+3/5=39+3/5 and 39 3/5=39 12/20 because 3x4 is 12 and 5x4 is 20 so... 33/4x24/5=39 3/5.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 29 Helpful 38
Question

Between which whole numbers does the fraction 7/8 fall?

Community Answer

The nearest 'whole numbers' (that is, integers) that 7/8 falls between are 0 and 1. This is because 7/8 represented as a decimal is 0.875.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 12 Helpful 19
Question

How do I order fractions from smallest to largest?

Community Answer

Convert them to decimals or percentages, then put them in order. Write what the fraction was next to them and you should have an ordered list when you're done.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 17 Helpful 27
Question

How can I get an equivalent fraction?

Community Answer

Here's an example: 1/3+1/2. The 1/3 is technically 2/6 as 2/6 of a pizza as two slices of a sixth pizza is one slice in a three-slice pizza. The same can be said for the 1/2, the 1/2 can be converted to 3/6 as 3 pieces of a 6 piece pizza is equal to one piece in a two-piece pizza. Now it's 3/6+2/6=5/6. Complete!

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 17 Helpful 17
Question

What is the answer to the problem 11-5/6?

Community Answer

11 - 5/6 = ? 11 = x/6 66/6 = 11 (because both have to be in the same denominator) 66/6 - 5/6 = 61/6

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 23 Helpful 21
Question

What percent of 588 is 416?

Donagan

Top Answerer

416 / 588 = 70.75%.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 7 Helpful 7
Question

How do I solve 1/4 + x = 3/4?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Subtract ¼ from both sides of the equation.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 3
Question

How do I solve mixed fraction problems?

Community Answer

Remember, a mixed fraction is a whole number and a fraction combined. To make it easy to add and subtract, just convert them into improper fractions.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2
Question

How do I convert fractions to decimals?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Divide the numerator by the denominator.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
Question

6 sweets will make up what fraction of 24 sweets?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Reduce the fraction 6/24.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
Question

How do I calculate fractions that have addition, subtraction and multiplication?

LyKaxandra Caimoy

Community Answer

Look for the parentheses to find your order of operations. Begin with multiplication, then division, then addition, and last, subtraction.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 1
Question

How does adding fractions make the same numerator and denominator?

Donagan

Top Answerer

It doesn't. You have to make the denominators the same before you can add fractions. See Method 3 above.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

Susan spent 3/5 of her money on clothes, and 1/3 on a pair of shoe. What fraction of her money was left?

Community Answer

Just define all the money as 1, and then subtract both fractions that are given: 1-3/5-1/3=1-9/15-5/15=1/15.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

How do I work 3 + 5 1/4 + 1 1/2 + 3 3/4 + 6 1/2?

Community Answer

Convert the mixed fractions to improper fractions, adjust the improper fractions to all have a common denominator, then add the improper fractions first, then add 3.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
Question

What fraction has a denominator of 12 and is equivalent to 3/4?

Community Answer

3/4 = x/12. Solve for x. x = (3x12)/4 = 36/4 = 9. Therefore 9/12 is equivalent to 3/4. Another way to look at it is: what number do you multiply to 4 to get 12? 3. Take that same number and multiple the 3 that is over the 4 to get 9. Your answer would be 9/12.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
Question

Joe has 5, he gives his brother 1.5. What fraction of 5 has he given his brother?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Divide 1.5 by 5. That's 0.3, which equals 3/10. Check the answer by multiplying 5 by 3/10 = 15/10, which is 1.5.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
Question

What is 5/6 of 6/11?

Donagan

Top Answerer

5/6 of 6/11 is (5/6)(6/11) = 5/11.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
Question

How do I divide fractions?

Community Answer

Division of fraction is the opposite of multiplication. For example if (1/4)/(2/4), then 1/4*4/2=4/8. Simplify as 1/2.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question

How can I determine if two different fractions are equal to each other?

Community Answer

Here is an example: 4/8 , 2/4, 18/36. First, you have to simplify as: 4/8 = 1/2, then 2/4 = 1/2 and then you have 18/36= 1/2.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question

How can I find out what 4 1/3 - 1 3/6 is?

Community Answer

4 1/3=13/3, 1 3/6=9/6. LCM of denominators=6, (13x2)/(3x2)=26/6, 26/6 - 9/6=(26-9)/6 = 17/6.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2