Dividing Fractions: Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and steps for dividing fractions, including Copy-Change-Flip, cancellation, and simplifying to lowest terms.

Dividend

The number or fraction that is being divided.

Divisor

The number or fraction by which the dividend is divided.

Quotient

The result obtained after dividing a dividend by a divisor.

Dividing Fractions

An operation in which the dividend is multiplied by the reciprocal of the divisor to find the quotient.

Copy-Change-Flip (Keep-Change-Flip)

A three-step method for dividing fractions: copy the dividend, change the division sign to multiplication, and flip (take the reciprocal of) the divisor.

Reciprocal

A flipped version of a fraction such that the product of a fraction and its reciprocal equals 1 (e.g., the reciprocal of 3⁄4 is 4⁄3).

Cancellation (Factor Cancellation)

Simplifying fractions during multiplication by dividing common factors from numerators and denominators before carrying out the multiplication.

Lowest Terms (Simplest Form)

A form of a fraction in which the numerator and denominator share no common factor other than 1.

Check the Answer

A final verification step to ensure the computed quotient is correct and in simplest form.

Flip the Divisor

The act of taking the reciprocal of the divisor as part of the fraction-division procedure.

Change Division to Multiplication

The second step in the Copy-Change-Flip method in which the division symbol is replaced with a multiplication symbol.