First, let’s break down each piece of the problem. We have the fraction, 31/2, which is also the dividend, and the whole number, or the divisor, which is 42:
Numerator of the dividend: 31
Denominator of the dividend: 2
Whole number and divisor: 42
So what is 31/2 Divided by 42? Let’s work through the problem, and find the answer in both fraction and decimal forms.
First let’s set up the problem:
Step 1:
Take the whole number, 42, and multiply it by the denominator of the fraction, 2:
2 x 42 = 84
Step 2:
The result of this multiplication will now become the denominator of the answer. The answer to the problem in fraction form can now be seen:
To display the answer to 31/2 Divided by 42 in decimal form, you can divide the numerator, 84, by the denominator, 31. The answer can be rounded to the nearest three decimal points, if needed:
So, in decimal form, 31 divided by 2/42 = 2.71
And in its simplest fractional form, 31 divided by 2/42 is 84/31
If this problem was a little difficult or you want to practice your skills on another one, give it a go on any one of these too!
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