SSAT Upper Level Math : How to divide complex fractions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{2}{3}}{\frac{4}{5}}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{15}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{5}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}\)

Explanation:

Keep in mind that the main fraction line just means "divide." 

So then,

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{2}{3}}{\frac{4}{5}}=\frac{2}{3}\div\frac{4}{5}\)

Now, divide this like any other fraction.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\div\frac{4}{5}=\frac{2}{3}\times\frac{5}{4}=\frac{10}{12}=\frac{5}{6}\)

Example Question #42 : Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{4}{3}}{6}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{9}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{9}\)

Explanation:

Remember that the main line in the fraction means "divide."

Then,

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{4}{3}}{6}=\frac{4}{3}\div6\)

Now, divide this like you would divide any other fraction.

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{3}\div6=\frac{4}{3}\times\frac{1}{6}=\frac{4}{18}=\frac{2}{9}\)

Example Question #43 : Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{9}{10}}{\frac{5}{2}}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{15}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{25}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{25}{9}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{25}\)

Explanation:

Remember that the main line in the fraction means "divide."

Now,

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{9}{10}}{\frac{5}{2}}=\frac{9}{10}\div\frac{5}{2}\)

Divide these two fractions.

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{10}\div\frac{5}{2}=\frac{9}{10}\times\frac{2}{5}=\frac{18}{50}=\frac{9}{25}\)

Example Question #44 : Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{8}{9}}{\frac{1}{2}}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{16}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{16}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{9}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{16}{9}\)

Explanation:

The main fraction line means "divide."

Rewrite the complex fraction:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{8}{9}}{\frac{1}{2}}=\frac{8}{9}\div\frac{1}{2}\)

Divide these fractions.

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{9}\div\frac{1}{2}=\frac{8}{9}\times\frac{2}{1}=\frac{16}{9}\)

Example Question #45 : Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{12}{13}}{\frac{1}{4}}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{37}{13}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{12}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{48}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{48}{13}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{48}{13}\)

Explanation:

The main fraction line means "divide."

Rewrite the complex fractions as thus:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{12}{13}}{\frac{1}{4}}=\frac{12}{13}\div\frac{1}{4}\)

Now, divide these two fractions.

\(\displaystyle \frac{12}{13}\div\frac{1}{4}=\frac{12}{13}\times\frac{4}{1}=\frac{48}{13}\)

Example Question #46 : Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{7}{8}}{\frac{5}{4}}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{5}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{10}\)

Explanation:

The main fraction line means "divide." Rewrite the complex fraction as thus:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{7}{8}}{\frac{5}{4}}=\frac{7}{8}\div\frac{5}{4}\)

Divide these two fractions.

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{8}\div\frac{5}{4}=\frac{7}{8}\times\frac{4}{5}=\frac{28}{40}=\frac{7}{10}\)

Example Question #47 : Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{12}{11}}{\frac{5}{2}}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{24}{55}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{55}{24}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{11}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{24}{55}\)

Explanation:

The main line in a fraction means "divide." Rewrite the complex fraction as thus:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{12}{11}}{\frac{5}{2}}=\frac{12}{11}\div\frac{5}{2}\)

Now, divide the fractions.

\(\displaystyle \frac{12}{11}\div\frac{5}{2}=\frac{12}{11}\times\frac{2}{5}=\frac{24}{55}\)

Example Question #48 : Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{3}{2}}{\frac{5}{4}}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{12}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{5}\)

Explanation:

The main line in a fraction means "divide." Rewrite the complex fraction as thus:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{3}{2}}{\frac{5}{4}}=\frac{3}{2}\div\frac{5}{4}\)

Now, divide the fractions.

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}\div\frac{5}{4}=\frac{3}{2}\times\frac{4}{5}=\frac{12}{10}=\frac{6}{5}\)

Example Question #9 : How To Divide Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{1}{8}}{\frac{7}{8}}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{56}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{7}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{7}\)

Explanation:

The main line in a fraction means "divide." Rewrite the complex fraction as thus:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{1}{8}}{\frac{7}{8}}=\frac{1}{8}\div\frac{7}{8}\)

Now, divide these fractions.

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{8}\div\frac{7}{8}=\frac{1}{8}\times\frac{8}{7}=\frac{8}{56}=\frac{1}{7}\)

Example Question #1 : How To Divide Complex Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{3}{4}}{\frac{9}{10}}=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{30}{13}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{5}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}\)

Explanation:

The main line in a fraction means "divide." Rewrite the complex fraction as thus:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{3}{4}}{\frac{9}{10}}=\frac{3}{4}\div\frac{9}{10}\)

Now, divide these fractions.

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\div\frac{9}{10}=\frac{3}{4}\times\frac{10}{9}=\frac{30}{36}=\frac{5}{6}\)

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