College Algebra & Trigonometry, 2018a

58 CHAPTER 1. ALGEBRA REVIEW
The same is true for dividing fractions:
1
3 ÷ 2 ( 1
)
5 = (
3
2
5).
( 1
We can take the complex fraction ( 3)
2
and multiply it by 1 without changing its
5)
value:
1
3 ÷ 2 ( 1
)
5 = (
3
2
∗ 1
5)
=
( 1
3)
( 2
5)
We can multiply by any form of 1 we want to and not change the value of the
result.
( 1
( 3)
2
∗ 1=
5)
( 1
3)
( 2
5)
( 1
( 3)
2
∗
5) 9 ( 1
)
9 = (
3
2
5)
( 1
( 3)
2
) ∗ 12
( 1
)
12 = (
3
2
5
5)
With a carefully chosen form of 1, we can transform the division problem into a
multiplication problem.