How to Divide Whole Numbers by Proper Fractions

MatholiaChannel

This concise mathematics tutorial demonstrates the specific process of dividing whole numbers by proper fractions using both a real-world context and abstract calculation examples. The video begins by presenting a word problem about painters sharing tins of paint to conceptualize the division operation, visually linking the abstract math to a concrete scenario. It then transitions into the procedural method known as multiplying by the reciprocal (often taught as "keep, change, flip"). The central theme is the algorithmic approach to fraction division. The video explicitly models how to rewrite a division problem as a multiplication problem by "flipping" the fraction (finding the reciprocal). It walks viewers through the steps of converting the whole number into a fraction over one, multiplying numerators and denominators, and simplifying the resulting improper fraction into a whole number. For educators, this video serves as an excellent direct instruction tool or review resource for upper elementary and middle school students learning arithmetic operations with rational numbers. Its step-by-step visual format allows teachers to pause at each stage of the calculation to check student understanding. The inclusion of a word problem at the start is particularly valuable for helping students understand *why* division is used in specific contexts, rather than just memorizing the procedure.