To divide fractions, multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction
Reciprocal rule: swap the numerator and denominator of the divisor fraction
Example form: ( frac{a}{b} div frac{c}{d} = frac{a}{b} times frac{d}{c} )
Multiply numerators together and denominators together
Simplify the result by canceling common factors before or after multiplying
Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions before dividing
Example with mixed numbers: (1frac{1}{2} div frac{3}{4} = frac{3}{2} times frac{4}{3})
If dividing by a whole number, write it as a fraction with denominator 1, then follow the reciprocal rule
If the divisor is a fraction with a negative sign, the reciprocal will keep the negative sign in the numerator or denominator and the overall sign follows multiplication rules
If the final fraction can be reduced, reduce it to lowest terms
If the result is an improper fraction, convert to a mixed number if needed