Question

What is the value of 3 / (1/4)?

• A. 1/12
• B. 3/4
• C. 4/3
• D. 12
• E. 12/4

Hint:

When you divide a number by a fraction smaller than 1, the result will always be larger than the original number. This can help you eliminate incorrect options quickly.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This problem involves dividing a whole number by a unit fraction.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Dividing by a fraction is equivalent to multiplying by its reciprocal.
\[ a \div \frac{1}{b} = a \times b \]
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The expression is \(3 \div \frac{1}{4}\).
The reciprocal of \(\frac{1}{4}\) is \(\frac{4}{1}\) or simply 4.
We change the division to multiplication:
\[ 3 \times 4 = 12 \]
Alternatively, you can think of this as "How many quarters (\(1/4\)) are there in 3 wholes?". Since there are 4 quarters in one whole, there are \(3 \times 4 = 12\) quarters in three wholes.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The value is 12, which corresponds to option (D).