High School

Divide Fractions: Use an Algorithm



Zachary found [tex]\frac{3}{4} \div \frac{5}{6}[/tex]. His work is shown.



Is Zachary's work correct? If not, where did he make an error?



A. Zachary's work is correct.

B. Zachary made an error in Step 1.

C. Zachary made an error in Step 2.

D. Zachary made an error in Step 3.



[Step 1]

[tex]\frac{3}{4} \div \frac{5}{6} = \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{6}{5}[/tex]



[Step 2]

[tex]= \frac{18}{20}[/tex]



[Step 3]

[tex]= \frac{9}{10}[/tex]

Answer :

- Zachary incorrectly took the reciprocal of $\frac{3}{4}$ instead of $\frac{5}{6}$ in Step 1.
- The correct transformation should be $\frac{3}{4} \div \frac{5}{6} = \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{6}{5}$.
- Therefore, Zachary made an error in Step 1.
- The final answer is: Zachary made an error in Step 1.$\boxed{Zachary made an error in Step 1.}$

### Explanation
1. Analyzing Zachary's Work
Let's analyze Zachary's work step by step to identify any errors in his calculation of $\frac{3}{4} \div \frac{5}{6}$.

2. Identifying the Error in Step 1
Step 1: Zachary wrote $\frac{3}{4} \div \frac{5}{6} = \frac{4}{3} \times$. When dividing by a fraction, you should multiply by its reciprocal. The reciprocal of $\frac{5}{6}$ is $\frac{6}{5}$, not $\frac{4}{3}$. Therefore, Step 1 is incorrect. The correct Step 1 should be $\frac{3}{4} \div \frac{5}{6} = \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{6}{5}$.

3. Concluding the Analysis
Since we've identified an error in Step 1, we don't need to check the subsequent steps.

4. Final Answer
Zachary made an error in Step 1 by taking the reciprocal of the first fraction instead of the second.

### Examples
Dividing fractions is a common task in cooking. For example, if a recipe calls for $\frac{3}{4}$ cup of flour, but you only want to make half of the recipe, you would need to divide $\frac{3}{4}$ by 2 (or multiply by $\frac{1}{2}$). Understanding how to divide fractions allows you to scale recipes up or down as needed. This is also useful in other real-life situations, such as calculating distances on a map or determining proportions in construction projects.