# Dividing by negative fractions

• July 2nd 2010, 01:24 PM
OneidaFL
Dividing by negative fractions
-1/6x = -9/10

Do I divide the -1/6 by its reciprocal?

leaving me with: X = -9/10 divided by -1/6

• July 2nd 2010, 01:29 PM
undefined
Quote:

Originally Posted by OneidaFL
-1/6x = -9/10

Is this

$\displaystyle-\frac{1}{6}x=-\frac{9}{10}$

or

$\displaystyle-\frac{1}{6x}=-\frac{9}{10}$

?
• July 2nd 2010, 01:51 PM
OneidaFL
Quote:

Originally Posted by undefined
Is this

$\displaystyle-\frac{1}{6}x=-\frac{9}{10}$

or

$\displaystyle-\frac{1}{6x}=-\frac{9}{10}$

?

The first one is the correct one
• July 2nd 2010, 01:54 PM
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Quote:

Originally Posted by OneidaFL
The first one is the correct one

So yes, divide each side by -1/6, or equivalently, multiply each side by -6.
• July 2nd 2010, 02:59 PM
OneidaFL
And I am stuck!! Please show me how it is done.

-9/10 divided by -1/6

-9.10 multiplied by -6/1?
• July 2nd 2010, 03:05 PM
as you usually do in any equation of the form $ax=b$: $x=\frac{b}{a}$. In your case, you have $x=\frac{\frac{-9}{10}}{\frac{-1}{6}}=\frac{-9}{10} \times \frac{6}{-1} = \frac{54}{10}=\frac{27}{5}$