How to Divide Fractions and Whole Numbers

The Organic Chemistry Tutor

This instructional video provides a comprehensive tutorial on dividing fractions involving whole numbers. The narrator systematically demonstrates how to handle two main scenarios: dividing a fraction by a whole number and dividing a whole number by a fraction. The tutorial progresses from basic examples to more complex problems involving negative integers, emphasizing the "Keep, Change, Flip" method (multiplying by the reciprocal) as the standard algorithm for solving these equations. The video covers several key mathematical themes, including converting whole numbers to fractions, the rules for multiplying positive and negative integers, and simplifying expressions by cross-canceling common factors before multiplying. Additionally, it addresses how to convert improper fractions into mixed numbers using two different methods: decomposition and long division. The final segment introduces complex fraction notation (fractions stacked within fractions) and how to rewrite them as standard division problems. For educators, this video serves as an excellent resource for reinforcing procedural fluency in fraction operations. It is particularly useful for students transitioning from basic fraction arithmetic to operations with rational numbers (7th grade standards). The clear, step-by-step digital handwriting allows students to follow the mechanical process easily. Teachers can use this video to support flipped classroom models, providing students with immediate practice problems and worked solutions to self-assess their understanding of dividing rational numbers.