Division of Fractions: NCERT Exercise 2.4

Fractions and Decimals 7th Math

Division of Fractions: NCERT Exercise 2.4

Reciprocals of a Number

The non–zero numbers whose product with each other is 1, are called the reciprocals of each other.

Example (1)

Solution :

Reciprocal of 2 is `1/2`

When we multiply the 2 with `1/2` the result is 1.

i.e. `cancel2xx1/cancel2 ` = 1

Similarly, reciprocal of `1/4` is 4

And `1/cancel4xxcancel4` = 1

Similarly, reciprocal of `3/4` is equal to `4/3`

And `cancel3/cancel4xxcancel4/cancel3` = 1

Similarly, reciprocal of `5/6` is equal to `6/5`

And their produc, `cancel5/cancel6xxcancel6/cancel5` = 1

Division of Fractions

Division of whole number by a fraction

To divide a whole number by any fraction, multiply that whole number by the reciprocal of that fraction.

Example Divide 3 by `4/5`

Solution :

Here reciprocal of `4/5` is equal to `5/4`

Thus, `3-:4/5 = 3xx5/4`

`=(3xx5)/4`

`=15/4` Answer

Example (2)

Solution :

Divide 5 by `2/3`

Here reciprocal of `2/3` is equal to `3/2`

Thus, `5-: 2/3 = 5xx3/2`

`=(5xx3)/2`

`= 15/2` Answer

Division of a fraction by a whole number

To divide a fraction by a whole, multiply that fraction by the reciprocal of that whole number.

Example (1) Divide `1/2` by 3

Solution :

Here, given, `1/2-:3`

The reciprocal of 3 is equal to `1/3`

Thus, `1/2xx1/3`

`=(1xx1)/(2xx3)`

`=1/6` Answer

Example (2) Divide `1/5` by 7

Solution :

Here we have to divide `1/5` by 7

The reciprocal of 7 is equal to `1/7`

Thus, `1/5-:7`

`=1/5xx1/7`

`=(1xx1)/(5xx7)`

`=1/35` Answer

Division of fraction by another fraction

To divide a fraction by any fraction, multiply that fraction by the reciprocal of that fraction.

Example (1) Divide `1/2` by `2/3`

Solution :

The reciprocal of `2/3` is equal to `3/2`

Thus, `1/2-:2/3`

`=1/2xx3/2`

`=(1xx3)/(2xx3)`

`=3/6` Answer

Example (2) Divide `5/4` by `3/4`

Solution :

The reciprocal of `3/4` is equal to `4/3`

Thus, `5/4-:3/4`

`=5/cancel4xxcancel4/3`

`=5/3` Answer

Solution of NCERT Exercise 2.4

Question (1) Find

(i) `12-: 3/4`

Solution :

Given, to find `12-: 3/4`

We know that, to divide a whole number by any fraction, we have to multiply that whole number by the reciprocal of that fraction.

Thus, here the reciprocal of `3/4` is equal to `4/3`

Thus, `12-: 3/4`

`=cancel12 4xx4/cancel3`

= 4 × 4

= 16 Answer

(ii) `14-:5/6`

Solution :

Given, `14-:5/6`

We know that, to divide a whole number by any fraction, we have to multiply that whole number by the reciprocal of that fraction.

Thus, here the reciprocal of `5/6` is equal to `6/5`

Thus, `14-:5/6`

`=14xx6/5`

`=(14xx6)/5`

`=84/5`

`=16 4/5` Answer

(iii) `8-:7/3`

Solution :

Given, `8-:7/3`

We know that, to divide a whole number by any fraction, we have to multiply that whole number by the reciprocal of that fraction.

Thus, here the reciprocal of `7/3` is equal to `3/7`

Thus, `8-:7/3`

`=8xx3/7`

`=(8xx3)/7`

`=24/7`

`=3 3/7` Answer

(iv) `4-:8/3`

Solution :

Given, `4-:8/3`

We know that, to divide a whole number by any fraction, we have to multiply that whole number by the reciprocal of that fraction.

Thus, here the reciprocal of `8/3` is equal to `3/8`

Thus, `4-:8/3`

`=cancel4xx3/(cancel8 2)`

`=(1xx3)/2`

`=3/2`

`=1 1/2` Answer

(v) `3-:2 1/3`

Solution :

Given, `3-:2 1/3`

`=3-:7/3`

We know that, to divide a whole number by any fraction, we have to multiply that whole number by the reciprocal of that fraction.

Thus, here the reciprocal of `7/3` is equal to `3/7`

`=3xx3/7`

`=(3xx3)/7`

`=9/7`

`=1 2/7` Answer

(vi) `5-:3 4/7`

Solution :

Given, `5-:3 4/7`

`=5-:25/7`

We know that, to divide a whole number by any fraction, we have to multiply that whole number by the reciprocal of that fraction.

Thus, here the reciprocal of `25/7` is equal to `7/25`

`=cancel5xx7/(cancel25 5)`

`=7/5`

`=1 2/5` Answer

Question (2) Find the reciprocal of each of the following fractions. Classify the reciprocals as proper fractions, improper fractions and whole numbers.

(i) `3/7`

Solution :

Given, `3/7`

Thus, reciprocal = ?

The reciprocal of `3/7` is equal to `7/3`

`=7/3`. This is a improper fraction Answer

(ii) `5/8`

Solution :

Given, `5/8`

Thus, reciprocal = ?

The reciprocal of given fraction

`=8/5`

Since, denominator is smaller than numerator, thus it is an improper fraction.

Thus, `8/5`, improper fraction. Answer

(iii) `9/7`

Solution :

Given, `9/7`

Thus, reciprocal = ?

The reciprocal of given fraction

`=7/9`

Since here numerator is smaller than denominator, thus it is a proper fraction.

Thus, `7/9`, proper fraction Answer

(iv) `6/5`

Solution :

Given, `6/5`

Thus, reciprocal = ?

The reciprocal of given fraction is equal to `5/6`

Since here numerator is greater than denominator, thus it is an improper fraction.

Thus, `5/6`, improper fraction Answer

(v) `12/7`

Solution :

Given, `12/7`

Thus, reciprocal = ?

The reciprocal of given fraction

`=7/12`

Since, here numerator is smaller than denominator, thus it is a proper fraction.

Thus, `7/12`, proper fraction Answer

(vi) `1/8`

Solution :

Given, `1/8`

Thus, reciprocal = ?

The reciprocal of given fraction

`=8/1=8`

Thus, 8, whole number Answer

(vii) `1/11`

Solution :

Given, `1/11`

Thus, reciprocal = ?

The reciprocal of given fraction = 8

Thus, 8, whole number Answer

Question (3) Find:

(i) `7/3-:2`

Solution :

Given, `7/3-:2`

The reciprocal of 2 is equal to `1/2`

Thus, `7/3-:2`

`=7/3xx1/2`

`=(7xx1)/(3xx2)`

`=7/6`

`=1 1/6` Answer

(ii) `4/9-:5`

Solution :

Given, `4/9-:5`

The reciprocal of 5 `=1/5`

Thus, `4/9-:5`

`=4/9xx1/5`

`=(4xx1)/(9xx5)`

`=4/45` Answer

(iii) `6/13-:7`

Solution :

Given, `6/13-:7`

The reciprocal of `7=1/7`

Thus, `6/13-:7`

`=6/13xx1/7`

`=(6xx1)/(13xx7)`

`=6/91` Answer

(iv) `4 1/3-:3`

Solution :

Given, `4 1/3-:3`

`=13/3-:3`

The reciprocal of `3=1/3`

Thus, `13/3-:3`

`=13/3xx1/3`

`=(13xx1)/(3xx3)`

`=13/9`

`=1 4/9` Answer

(v) `3 1/2-:4`

Solution :

Given, `3 1/2-:4`

`=7/2-:4`

The reciprocal of `4=1/4`

`=7/2xx1/4`

`=(7xx1)/(2xx4)`

`=7/8` Answer

(vi) `4 3/7-:7`

Solution :

Given, `4 3/7-:7`

`=31/7-:7`

The reciprocal of `7=1/7`

`=31/7xx1/7`

`=(31xx1)/(7xx7)`

`=31/49` Answer

Question (4) Find :

(i) `2/5-:1/2`

Solution :

Given, `2/5-:1/2`

The reciprocal of `1/2=2/1`

`=2/5xx2/1`

`=(2xx2)/(5xx1)`

`=4/5` Answer

(ii) `4/9-:2/3`

Solution :

Given, `4/9-:2/3`

The reciprocal of `2/3=3/2`

`=4/9xx2/3`

`=(4xx2)/(9xx3)`

`=8/27` Answer

(iii) `3/7-:8/7`

Solution :

Given, `3/7-:8/7`

The reciprocal of `8/7=7/8`

`=3/cancel7xxcancel7/8`

`=3/8` Answer

(iv) `2 1/3-:3/5`

Solution :

Given, `2 1/3-:3/5`

`=7/3-:3/5`

The reciprocal of `3/5=5/3`

`=7/3xx5/3`

`=(7xx5)/(3xx3)`

`=35/9`

`=3 8/9` Answer

(v) `3 1/2-:8/3`

Solution :

Given, `3 1/2-:8/3`

`=7/2-:8/3`

The reciprocal of `8/3=3/8`

`=7/2xx3/8`

`=(7xx3)/(2xx8)`

`=21/16`

`=1 5/16` Answer

(vi) `2/5-:1 1/2`

Solution :

Given, `2/5-:1 1/2`

`=2/5-:3/2`

The reciprocal of `3/2=2/3`

`=2/5xx2/3`

`=(2xx2)/(5xx3)`

`=4/15` Answer

(vii) `3 1/5-:1 2/3`

Solution :

Given, `3 1/5-:1 2/3`

`=16/5-:5/3`

The reciprocal of `5/3=3/5`

`=16/5xx3/5`

`=(16xx3)/(5xx5)`

`=48/25`

`=1 23/25` Answer

(viii) `2 1/5-:1 1/5`

Solution :

Given, `2 1/5-:1 1/5`

`=11/5-:6/5`

The reciprocal of `6/5=5/6`

`=cancel6/cancel5xxcancel5/cancel6`

=1 Answer

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