## anonymous 5 years ago a pice of wire 5 /3 m long is to be cut into 15 pieces of the same length. what is the length of each piece

1. anonymous

5/3 divided by 15 to divide fractions...multiply by the reciprocal so 5/3*1/15=5/45=1/9=.1 repeating

2. anonymous

wouldnt it be 5/3 *15/1=45/3=15

3. anonymous

No, when you divide two fractions like$\frac{(\frac{a}{b})}{(\frac{c}{d})}$the algebra leads you to making this calculation:$\frac{(\frac{a}{b})}{(\frac{c}{d})}=\frac{a}{b}\times \frac{d}{c}=\frac{ad}{bc}$Notice the fraction on the bottom (denominator) has flipped before you multiply.

4. anonymous

In your question, a=5, b=3 c=15 and d=1.

5. anonymous

$\frac{5\times1}{3\times15}=\frac{5}{45}=\frac{1}{9}$

6. anonymous

-35/17=-49/136n

7. anonymous

Are you solving for n?

8. anonymous

yes

9. anonymous

$\frac{-35}{17}=\frac{-49}{16n}$Multiply both sides by 16n to get$\frac{-35 \times 16n}{17}=-49 \rightarrow \frac{-560n}{17}=-49$Multiply both sides by 17 to then get,$-560n=-49 \times 17 \rightarrow -560n=-833$and finally divide by -560 to isolate n$n=\frac{-833}{-560}=\frac{119}{80}$after simplifying.

10. anonymous

^ 7 is a common factor of 833 and 560, so 833 = 7 x 119 560 = 7 x 80 The 7s cancel.