VJ Posts: 1, Reputation: 1 New Member #1 Dec 22, 2009, 05:44 PM
Evaluate:1/4 ÷ 5/8 8 • (1/5)
1/4 ÷ 5/8 8 • (1/5)
 Perito Posts: 3,139, Reputation: 150 Ultra Member #2 Dec 22, 2009, 08:58 PM
Originally Posted by VJ
1/4 ÷ 5/8 8 • (1/5)

$\frac 14 \div \frac 58 \,\, 8 \times (\frac 15)$

What's the operation that comes between the 5/8 and the 8?

$\frac 14 \div \frac 58 = \frac 14 \times \frac 85 = \frac 25$

$8 \times \frac 15 = \frac 85$

So, it looks like we have something like

$\frac 25 \, some\,operation \, \frac 85 = ??$

If the operation is multiplication, you end up with

$\frac 25 \times \frac 85 = \frac {16}{25}$
 InfoJunkie4Life Posts: 1,409, Reputation: 81 Ultra Member #3 Dec 22, 2009, 08:58 PM

That equation makes little sense. Please use parentheses to make it clearer.
 Unknown008 Posts: 8,076, Reputation: 723 Uber Member #4 Dec 23, 2009, 09:46 AM

An equation is something which must have an equal sign. However, I don't see any in the OP, so this is not an equation, but an expression. :rolleyes:

Actually, I think the OP wanted to post two different problems.

The explanation that I'll give for those is:

$\frac14 \div \frac58 = \frac14 \times \frac85 = \frac{8}{20} = \frac25$

When you have a fraction divided by another fraction, change it to the first fraction times the reciprocal (or perhaps the 'inverse') of the second fraction. Then, multiply the denominators (figure 'above' the fraction) and the numerators (figure 'under' the fraction).

For the second one, you can change 8 to 8/1 and apply the same rule. Both lead to the same answer.
 mathwiz3502 Posts: 121, Reputation: 1 Junior Member #5 Dec 23, 2009, 03:36 PM
Are those two equations?
If so
1. get the recipical of either fraction (flip)
act as though it is now multiplication (multiply numerators and denominators)
and
2. 8 is 8/1 so multiply that with 1/5
 Unknown008 Posts: 8,076, Reputation: 723 Uber Member #6 Dec 23, 2009, 08:13 PM

I will repeat myself. Those two are not equations!!

 InfoJunkie4Life Posts: 1,409, Reputation: 81 Ultra Member #7 Dec 24, 2009, 10:34 PM
As much as I hate it sometimes, I appreciate Unknown008's anger. Its Not often that someone is out there to preserve the language we all share. Languages in general are degrading due to improper use. Things become more and more unclear because of the accepted 'wrong' use of thousands of words. Pretty soon, we'll find that people will barely be able to communicate, they will not know one sentence from the next...

Maybe not that severe, but clarity is a great quality to preserve in my opinion.

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