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I am having a problem understanding combined operations involving multiplication and division.
 
Question  2 1/4 x 1/8 / 1 3/4 x 12 4/9 x 3 =
 
Cannot figure out what to do with the whole numbers. 
 
Thanx
Louise
 

 

Hi Louise,

I would first convert all the mixed fractions to improper fractions.

2 1/4 = 9/4

1 3/4 = 7/4

12 4/9 = 112/9

The problem then becomes

( 9/4  1/8 )/( 7/4)  112/9 3

I now expect that you teacher has told you that to divide by a fraction you "invert and multiply". This gives

( 9/4  1/8 ) ( 4/7)  112/9 3

Finally cancel and simplify.

Penny

 
 

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