Reciprocal of a Fraction Calculator

Published on: March 31, 2024
Final Answer: Free • Full Steps: Free

This Reciprocal of a Fraction Calculator helps you flip a fraction upside down and shows the working clearly at every step. The top number moves down and the bottom number moves up, and the flipped fraction is called the reciprocal. It is the move that turns a division into a multiplication, which is why it shows up whenever you do a division of fractions. Following the same pattern every time is what makes reciprocals easy to picture, check, and repeat on your own with any fraction.

Step-by-step method

  1. Set up the problem.
  2. Swap the top and bottom numbers over.
See Example 1 Hide Example 1

Problem

\(\frac{5}{2}\)

Approach

Step-by-step method

  1. Set up the problem.
  2. Swap the top and bottom numbers over.

Step 1

Step 1 - Set up the problem.

In this problem: We are finding the reciprocal of \(\frac{5}{2}\).

\(\frac{5}{2}\)

Step 2

Step 2 - Swap the top and bottom numbers over.

In this problem: The top number \(5\) moves down and the bottom number \(2\) moves up, so \(\frac{5}{2}\) becomes \(\frac{2}{5}\).

\(\frac{5}{2} \;\rightarrow\; \frac{2}{5}\)

Final Answer

\(\frac{5}{2} \;\rightarrow\; \frac{2}{5}\)
See Example 2 Hide Example 2

Problem

\(\frac{3}{4}\)

Approach

Step-by-step method

  1. Set up the problem.
  2. Swap the top and bottom numbers over.

Step 1

Step 1 - Set up the problem.

In this problem: We are finding the reciprocal of \(\frac{3}{4}\).

\(\frac{3}{4}\)

Step 2

Step 2 - Swap the top and bottom numbers over.

In this problem: The top number \(3\) moves down and the bottom number \(4\) moves up, so \(\frac{3}{4}\) becomes \(\frac{4}{3}\).

\(\frac{3}{4} \;\rightarrow\; \frac{4}{3}\)

Final Answer

\(\frac{3}{4} \;\rightarrow\; \frac{4}{3}\)