Calculate 2 ÷ 5: Converting Division to Fraction Form

Q: Why does 2 ÷ 5 become a fraction instead of a decimal?

Division problems can be expressed in three ways: as division (2 ÷ 5), as a fraction $ \frac{2}{5} $, or as a decimal (0.4). They all represent the same value!

Q: How do I remember which number goes where in the fraction?

Think of it like this: "First number divided BY second number" means first number goes on top, second number goes on bottom. So 2 ÷ 5 means 2 on top, 5 on bottom.

Q: Is 2/5 the final answer or do I need to simplify it?

$ \frac{2}{5} $ is already in simplest form! Since 2 and 5 share no common factors other than 1, this fraction cannot be reduced further.

Q: What if the first number is bigger than the second number?

No problem! For example, 5 ÷ 2 becomes $ \frac{5}{2} $. This is called an improper fraction because the numerator is larger than the denominator.

Q: Can I convert this fraction to a mixed number?

Since 2 $ \frac{2}{5} $ is already proper and less than 1. Mixed numbers are only used when the fraction is greater than or equal to 1.

Division to Fraction with Whole Numbers

What fraction results from dividing 2 by 5?

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Find the fraction

00:04 Write division as a fraction

00:07 Write the left side in the numerator and the right side in the denominator

00:11 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

What fraction results from dividing 2 by 5?

Step-by-step solution

Firstly, let's write out the division exercise:

$2:5$

Now, let's write it out again as a simple fraction, remembering that the numerator is on top and the denominator is on the bottom:

$\frac{2}{5}$

Final Answer

$\frac{2}{5}$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Division Rule: Any division can be written as a fraction
Technique: Write dividend over divisor: 2 ÷ 5 becomes $\frac{2}{5}$
Check: Verify $\frac{2}{5} \times 5 = 2$ returns original dividend ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Reversing numerator and denominator positions
Don't write 2 ÷ 5 as $\frac{5}{2}$ = wrong fraction! This flips the division operation completely. Always remember: dividend goes on top (numerator), divisor goes on bottom (denominator).

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Write the fraction shown in the picture, in words:

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why does 2 ÷ 5 become a fraction instead of a decimal?

Division problems can be expressed in three ways: as division (2 ÷ 5), as a fraction $\frac{2}{5}$ , or as a decimal (0.4). They all represent the same value!

How do I remember which number goes where in the fraction?

Think of it like this: "First number divided BY second number" means first number goes on top, second number goes on bottom. So 2 ÷ 5 means 2 on top, 5 on bottom.

Is 2/5 the final answer or do I need to simplify it?

$\frac{2}{5}$ is already in simplest form! Since 2 and 5 share no common factors other than 1, this fraction cannot be reduced further.

What if the first number is bigger than the second number?

No problem! For example, 5 ÷ 2 becomes $\frac{5}{2}$ . This is called an improper fraction because the numerator is larger than the denominator.

Can I convert this fraction to a mixed number?

Since 2 < 5, the fraction $\frac{2}{5}$ is already proper and less than 1. Mixed numbers are only used when the fraction is greater than or equal to 1.

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