Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Basic Math Placement Practice Test

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Get ready for the ALEKS Basic Math Placement Test. Study with interactive quizzes and detailed explanations. Prepare to excel!

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What is the outcome when dividing by a fraction?

You multiply by its reciprocal
You cannot divide by fractions
The result remains a fraction
The denominator is discarded

The correct answer is: You multiply by its reciprocal

When dividing by a fraction, the correct process is to multiply by its reciprocal. This means that instead of performing a division operation, you take the fraction you are dividing by, flip it upside down (which gives you its reciprocal), and then proceed to multiply. For example, if you were to divide a number, say 4, by the fraction 1/2, you would first identify the reciprocal of 1/2, which is 2. You then multiply 4 by 2, resulting in 8. This method effectively converts the division of a fraction into a multiplication problem, simplifying the calculation process. Understanding this concept is vital because it applies universally across mathematics whenever you encounter division by a fraction, reinforcing the rule that dividing by a number is equivalent to multiplying by its reciprocal.