Use reciprocals for the purpose of division. The video shows how to use reciprocals to rewrite division problems. Pupils see that the definition of division as the multiplication by the reciprocal works for all types of numbers. 

Concepts

division, reciprocals, multiplicative inverse, inverse

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the presentation to begin a discussion on a different way to interpret division

Classroom Considerations

• Learners should know how to multiply signed numbers
• Assumes students are comfortable with whole-number division

Pros

• Uses examples to include negatives and positive quotients
• Confirms that division by zero is impossible

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.6.2 5.NF.B.7.a 5.NF.B.7.b 6.NS.A.1 MP6 MP7