This is just an example of a more general rule: dividing by a number is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal (multiplicative inverse). You might say that division can be DEFINED that way. Here is one way to make it look plausible:Take a number - say, 10 - then multiply it by 4, and then multiply it by 1/4. What do you get?
10 x 4 x 1/4 = 10 x (4 x 1/4) = 10 x 1 = 10
Since the product of a number and its multiplicative inverse, by definition, is 1.
But since multiplying by 4 and dividing by 4 are inverse operations, you also get the same result if you first multiply by 4, then divide by 4:
10 x 4 / 4 = 10 (because of the multiplicative inverse)
10
No, taking ½ of a number is the same as dividing it by 2. Dividing a number by ½ is the same as multiplying it by 2.
That is the definition of reciprocal.
no, dividing a number is halving it, multiplying iy by 2 is doubling it
2
no
10
Because multiplying or dividing them by the same NON-ZERO number does not alter their ratio.
Dividing by a fraction is mathematically identical to multiplying by its reciprocal, so a half divided by one over four is the same as a half multiplied by four over one and the answer is 2.If you meant to multiply a half by a fourth, the answer would be one-eighth.
Six twelfths divided by one fourth can be simplified by first converting the fractions. Six twelfths simplifies to one half. Dividing one half by one fourth is the same as multiplying one half by the reciprocal of one fourth, which is four over one. Therefore, one half multiplied by four equals two.
because there the same
it is the same as multiplying by 0.4
Because doing so is equivalent to multiplying or dividing by x/x, which can be cancelled down to 1.
No, taking ½ of a number is the same as dividing it by 2. Dividing a number by ½ is the same as multiplying it by 2.
Dividing by a non-zero rational number is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal.
because of mathematical equivalence: it doesn't change the result
Multiplying by -1/3