The Relationship Between Visual Fraction Models and Equations

Students formally connect models of fraction division to multiplication and the invert-and-multiply rule, in particular. In each example that students work through, the concept is reinforced: dividing by a fraction yields the same result as multiplying by the inverse of that fraction. The terms multiplicative inverse and reciprocal should be defined and displayed in the classroom, perhaps as part of a Word Wall. Two numbers whose product is one are multiplicative inverses.