Dividing by a half

4 replies

Mathsquery58 · 05/02/2022 13:33

I’m following the current maths thread and have done a NC for this. HoH not a journo or anything!
On that thread a discussion has begun about a long FB discussion of 40 divided by one half. I am not on FB. My ? is, can you give me a story problem to illustrate

           40 divided by one half?

TIA

OP posts:

Svara · 05/02/2022 13:35

40 grapefruits, serving is half a grapefruit, how many servings are there? Dividing by a half is the same as multiplying by two, you just turn the fraction upside down.

namechangedyetagain · 05/02/2022 13:37

80? 40/1 × 2/1

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 05/02/2022 13:42

Divided by half or in half? They are different things - is that what's causing the confusion?

So, like the pp grapefruit example 40 ÷ 0.5 = how many halves in 40 so the answer is 80

Half of 40 = 40 ÷ 2 which is 20

Original poster

Mathsquery58 · 05/02/2022 13:48

Thank you, everyone. I was interested in a story problem. I agree with @MrsDeaconClaybourne about the difference and confusion between in half and by half.

@Svara, what a fab example. Huge thanks

OP posts:

Flip