Picture this! Dividing by fractions

1. Picture this!Dividing by fractions solving 1¾ ÷ ½with Pattern Blocks

2. Get out the pattern blocks We’ll use them to build 1 ¾ ÷ ½and find out the answer

3. 1¾ is a mixed number We have to build 1¾ with a whole number part 1 plus a fraction part ¾

4. 1¾ There’s a 4 in the denominator (fourths), so we’ll need to build something that can be covered by 4 equal, smaller things.

5. Since each blue rhombus is exactly covered by 2 triangles

6. 2 blue rhombi will be exactly covered by 4 triangles

7. So let’s put 2 blue rhombi together and call it 1.

8. Since 4 green equilateral triangles cover it exactly, we can call it 4/4 (four fourths) 4/4 = 1 whole

9. 4/4 is Now we have to build ¾ so ¾ means 3 triangles A trapezoid covers that

10. So now we have 1¾ 1 1 ¾ Dividing it by ½ is the same thing as saying, “How many ½ blocks cover it?”

11. What’s a ½ block? 1 whole is so ½ must be

12. How many ½ blocks does it take to cover 1 ¾ ? so 1¾ ÷ ½ = 3 with a triangle left over

13. What about the leftover? What part of a ½ block is that leftover triangle?

14. 2 triangles cover the blue rhombus. So the leftover triangle is ½ of the rhombus. = ½ of

15. 1 ¾ ½ goes into 3½ times

16. 1¾ ÷ ½ = 3 ½