How do you solve a fraction within a fraction?

Answer 1

Here are some tips for solving a "complex fraction"- a fraction with another fraction in a numerator, denominator, or both.

(a/b)/c = a/bc

If the fraction is in the numerator, just multiply the two denominators, as if you were dividing the top numerator twice.

Example:

(5/2)/10 = (5/2)*(1/10) = 5/(2)(10) = 5/20 = 1/4

a/(b/c) = ac/b

If the fraction is in the denominator, multiply the reciprocal of the denominator by the numerator. It's sort of like un-multiplying the denominator, or flipping it upside down and merging it with the fraction.

Example:

4/(2/6) = 4*(6/2) = 24/2 = 12

(a/b)/(c/d)

Finally, if you're dividing two fractions, rather than dividing by the denominator, multiply the reciporical. It's basically the same as the last example, except you divide by the denominator of a.

Example:

(5/2)/(5/6) = (5/2)*(6/5) = 6/2 = 3
In mathematics, 26 as a fraction will be .26, 26/100.