Question

What is –15 ÷ 3/5 ?

Answer 1

I believe -1

Answer 2

Well, we should work this out to see how we got a specific answer.

Answer 3

\[-15 \times \frac{ 3 }{ 5 }\] This looks a lot better.

Answer 4

I used a Ti-83 calculater to jump and get the answer. They are so complex. I must've made an error.

Answer 5

Oh, wait, division. Duh.

Answer 6

-1

Answer 7

Yes @Stormtrooper it will be complex, I believe?

Answer 8

The trick is to find 3/5 of n = -15

Answer 9

oh i thought is was -1

Answer 10

The answer will not be -1/

Answer 11

It is, in fact, -25.

Answer 12

No direct answers please.

Answer 13

\[ \frac{-15}{\frac{3}{5}} \]
if you multiply the top and bottom by the same number 5/3 in this case you get
\[ \frac{-15\cdot \frac{5}{3}}{\frac{3}{5}\cdot \frac{5}{3}} \]

in the bottom, 3/5 tiems 5/3 is 1
up top you have -15 times 5/3

Answer 14

@phi Beautiful.

Answer 15

rather than do all of that, people memorize this:
to divide by a fraction, first "flip it" and then multiply
in other words, change the problem from
\[ -15 \div \frac{3}{5} \]
to
\[ -15 \cdot \frac{5}{3} \]

I would divide 3 into -15, and then multiply that by 5 to get the answer

Answer 16

lel

Answer 17

yea its -25