Visual aids can be super helpful when learning how to multiply by the reciprocal, especially when dividing fractions. Let’s break it down!

Understanding the Concept

When you divide fractions like $\frac{3}{4} \div \frac{2}{5}$, you can think of it as multiplying by the reciprocal of the second fraction.

1. What’s a Reciprocal? The reciprocal of $\frac{2}{5}$ is $\frac{5}{2}$. This means you flip the numbers around!

2. Drawing it Out: Imagine you draw a rectangle. One part of the rectangle shows $\frac{3}{4}$, and another part shows $\frac{2}{5}$. When you flip $\frac{2}{5}$, it helps you see the whole picture differently.

Step-by-Step Example

• Step 1: Turn the division into multiplication:
  $\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{5}{2}$

• Step 2: Multiply the top numbers and the bottom numbers:
  $\frac{3 \times 5}{4 \times 2} = \frac{15}{8}$

Using visuals helps you remember that to divide by a fraction, you actually multiply by its reciprocal!