Rewrite the division as multiplication by the reciprocal: 5 ÷ 8 5 = 5 × 5 8 .
Multiply the numbers: 5 × 5 8 = 5 5 × 8 .
Simplify the fraction: 5 40 = 8 .
The result of the division is 8 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are asked to divide the number 5 by the fraction 8 5 . This is a straightforward division problem involving a whole number and a fraction.
Rewriting the Division as Multiplication To divide by a fraction, we multiply by its reciprocal. The reciprocal of 8 5 is 5 8 . Therefore, the problem becomes a multiplication: 5 ÷ 8 5 = 5 × 5 8 .
Performing the Multiplication Now, we perform the multiplication: 5 × 5 8 = 5 5 × 8 = 5 40 .
Simplifying the Fraction Finally, we simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator by the denominator: 5 40 = 8 .
Final Answer The result of the division is 8. Therefore, 5 ÷ 8 5 = 8 .
Examples
Imagine you are baking a cake and the recipe calls for 8 5 cup of sugar per serving. If you have 5 cups of sugar, this calculation tells you how many servings you can make. Understanding division with fractions helps in real-life scenarios like cooking, measuring ingredients, and distributing resources evenly.