What is 2 1/2 divided by 1 1/2?

Step by step

1. Write each number as a fraction
   2 1/2 = (2 × 2 + 1)/2 = 5/2
   1 1/2 = (1 × 2 + 1)/2 = 3/2
2. Keep, change, flip
   Keep the first fraction, change ÷ to ×, and flip the second fraction upside down:
   5/2 ÷ 3/2 = 5/2 × 2/3
3. Multiply the tops, then the bottoms
   (5 × 2)/(2 × 3) = 10/6
4. Simplify
   Divide the top and bottom by 2: 10/6 = 5/3
5. Write it as a mixed number
   5 ÷ 3 = 1 remainder 2, so 5/3 = 1 2/3

Check: 5/3 × 3/2 = 5/2 ✓

Picture

Each bar is one whole, split into equal parts.

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