When we study the order of mathematical operations we come across the terms division bar and fraction bar, but what do they mean and why are they so special?

First of all, we must remember that the fraction bar—or vinculumis exactly the same as a division. 10:2 10:2 is the same as  102{\ {10 \over 2}} and  10/2{\ {10/ 2}}.

Two things to remember:

  • You cannot divide by 00. To prove this, let's look at the following example:  3:0={\ {3:0=}}.
    To solve this, we must be able to do the following:  0?=3{\ {0 \cdot ?=3}}. However, since there is no number that can be multiplied by 00 to give the result 33, there is also therefore no number that can be divided by 00.
  • When we have a fraction bar, it is as if there are parentheses in the numerator. We solve the numerator first and then continue with the exercise. For example:

 1022=82=4{\ {{10-2 \over 2}= {8 \over 2} = 4}}


Suggested Topics to Practice in Advance

  1. The Order of Basic Operations: Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication
  2. Order of Operations: Exponents
  3. Order of Operations: Roots
  4. Order of Operations with Parentheses

Practice Division and Fraction Bars (Vinculum)

Examples with solutions for Division and Fraction Bars (Vinculum)

Exercise #1

8×(5×1)= 8\times(5\times1)=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations, we first solve the expression in parentheses:

5×1=5 5\times1=5

Now we multiply:

8×5=40 8\times5=40

Answer

40

Exercise #2

7×1+12= 7\times1+\frac{1}{2}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, we first insert the multiplication exercise into parentheses:

(7×1)+12= (7\times1)+\frac{1}{2}=

Let's solve the exercise inside the parentheses:

7×1=7 7\times1=7

And now we get the exercise:

7+12=712 7+\frac{1}{2}=7\frac{1}{2}

Answer

712 7\frac{1}{2}

Exercise #3

63×1= \frac{6}{3}\times1=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, we will solve the exercise from left to right, since there are only multiplication and division operations:

63=2 \frac{6}{3}=2

2×1=2 2\times1=2

Answer

2 2

Exercise #4

Solve the following exercise:

12+30= 12+3\cdot0=

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations, we first multiply and then add:

12+(30)= 12+(3\cdot0)=

3×0=0 3\times0=0

12+0=12 12+0=12

Answer

12 12

Exercise #5

Solve the following exercise:

2+0:3= 2+0:3=

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, we first divide and then add:

2+(0:3)= 2+(0:3)=

0:3=0 0:3=0

2+0=2 2+0=2

Answer

2 2

Exercise #6

25+2510= \frac{25+25}{10}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's begin by multiplying the numerator:

25+25=50 25+25=50

We obtain the following fraction:

5010 \frac{50}{10}

Finally let's reduce the numerator and denominator by 10 and we are left with the following result:

51=5 \frac{5}{1}=5

Answer

5 5

Exercise #7

0:7+1= 0:7+1=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, we first divide and then add:

0:7=0 0:7=0

0+1=1 0+1=1

Answer

1 1

Exercise #8

12+1+0= 12+1+0=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, since the exercise only involves addition operations, we will solve the problem from left to right:

12+1=13 12+1=13

13+0=13 13+0=13

Answer

13

Exercise #9

0+0.2+0.6= 0+0.2+0.6=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, since the exercise only involves addition operations, we will solve the problem from left to right:

0+0.2=0.2 0+0.2=0.2

0.2+0.6=0.8 0.2+0.6=0.8

Answer

0.8

Exercise #10

12+0+12= \frac{1}{2}+0+\frac{1}{2}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations, since the exercise only involves addition operations, we will solve the problem from left to right:

12+0=12 \frac{1}{2}+0=\frac{1}{2}

12+12=11=1 \frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{1}=1

Answer

1 1

Exercise #11

90+0.5= 9-0+0.5=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, since the exercise only involves addition and subtraction, we will solve the problem from left to right:

90=9 9-0=9

9+0.5=9.5 9+0.5=9.5

Answer

9.5

Exercise #12

19+10= 19+1-0=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, since the exercise only involves addition and subtraction operations, we will solve the problem from left to right:

19+1=20 19+1=20

200=20 20-0=20

Answer

20 20

Exercise #13

2+0:3= 2+0:3=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, we first divide and then add:

0:3=0 0:3=0

2+0=2 2+0=2

Answer

2 2

Exercise #14

12+3×0= 12+3\times0=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations, we first multiply and then add:

3×0=0 3\times0=0

12+0=12 12+0=12

Answer

12

Exercise #15

1×12:2 1\times\frac{1}{2}:2

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations rules, we will solve the exercise from left to right since there are only multiplication and division operations:

1×12=12 1\times\frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{2}

12:2=14 \frac{1}{2}:2=\frac{1}{4}

Answer

1/4

Topics learned in later sections

  1. The Numbers 0 and 1 in Operations
  2. Neutral Element (Identiy Element)
  3. Multiplicative Inverse
  4. The Order of Operations
  5. Order or Hierarchy of Operations with Fractions