1/3 ÷ 4 means sharing a third into 4 equal parts. Each part is 1/12, because 12 of them make a whole. So 1/3 ÷ 4 = 1/12.
4 ÷ 1/3 asks how many thirds fit into 4 wholes. Each whole has 3 thirds, so 4 wholes have 12 thirds. So 4 ÷ 1/3 = 12. Dividing a whole number by a unit fraction makes the answer bigger.
Worked example
5 ÷ 1/4 =
- How many quarters are in 5 wholes?
- Each whole has 4 quarters: 5 × 4 = 20.
Answer:20
Key words
- unit fraction
- a fraction with 1 on top
- share
- split into equal parts
- how many fit
- a way to think about division
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: 5.NF.B.7