bret divided 3 1/2 by a number and got 4 1/2.what number did he divide by?
3.5/x = 4.5
3.5 = 4.5x
3.5 / 4.5 = 0.7777778
Do 4 1/2 times 3 1/2, because you have to do the opposite operation to get the missing number.
To find the number that Bret divided by, you can set up an equation using the given information.
Let's say the number that Bret divided by is "x".
According to the given information, Bret divided 3 1/2 by "x" and got the result as 4 1/2.
So, the equation can be set up as:
3 1/2 ÷ x = 4 1/2
To solve this equation, you can convert the mixed numbers into improper fractions and then perform the division.
3 1/2 is equivalent to (3 * 2 + 1) / 2 = 7/2
4 1/2 is equivalent to (4 * 2 + 1) / 2 = 9/2
Now, the equation becomes:
7/2 ÷ x = 9/2
To solve for "x", you can multiply both sides of the equation by the reciprocal of 7/2, which is 2/7.
(7/2 ÷ x) * (2/7) = (9/2) * (2/7)
On the left side, the 2s cancel out, and on the right side, the 2/7 simplifies to 1:
1 * (7/x) = 9/7
Now, we can cross-multiply:
7 * 1 = 9 * x
7 = 9x
Finally, divide both sides by 9:
7/9 = 9x/9
Simplifying:
7/9 = x
Therefore, Bret divided 3 1/2 by the number 7/9.