Boxi Math

Stage 2 · New Numbers / #9

Why Dividing by a Fraction Means Flip and Multiply

S-1 · Numbers are amounts S-3 · Units can be redefined S-6 · Mistakes are fine — try it
Coming soon

The video is in production. Follow along on GitHub to hear when it is out.

The idea

Dividing by 2/3 asks how many 2/3s fit inside: every 1 holds exactly 3/2 of them, so 6 holds 6 × 3/2 = 9.

A common mix-up

Dividing always makes a number smaller; or remembering the rule from a single example.

Where it stops working

Dividing by something bigger than 1 does make it smaller: 6 ÷ 3/2 = 4, because each 1 only holds 2/3 of a 3/2.

School year
China 6