Is 5/1 equal to 1/5?

May 9, 2018

No, see below.

Explanation:

No, $\frac{5}{1} \ne \frac{1}{5}$

$\frac{5}{1} = 5$, and $\frac{1}{5} = 0.2$

$5 \ne 0.2$, therefore $\frac{5}{1} \ne \frac{1}{5}$

May 9, 2018

No.

Explanation:

Divide the numerator by the denominator.

$\frac{5}{1} = 5$

$\frac{1}{5} = 0.2$

$\frac{1}{5}$ and $\frac{5}{1}$ are reciprocals.

When multiplied, they equal $1$.

$\frac{5}{1} \times \frac{1}{5} = \frac{5}{5}$

$\frac{5}{5} = 1$

May 12, 2018

$\frac{5}{1} \ne \frac{1}{5}$

Explanation:

If you place each of these numbers on the numberline you will see they are in totally different positions,

$\frac{5}{1} = 5$ is a whole number between $4 \mathmr{and} 6$

$\frac{1}{5}$ is a proper fraction. It means a whole, divided into five equal portions, each being $\frac{1}{5}$. It is between $0 \mathmr{and} 1$ on the number line, in fact it is even smaller than $\frac{1}{2} \mathmr{and} \frac{1}{4}$.

So no, they are not equal.

In the same way $\frac{2}{1} \ne \frac{1}{2}$. etc