Solve the Nested Division Expression: 38:(6:(2:6))

Question

38:(6:(2:6))=? 38:(6:(2:6))=\text{?}

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Solve
00:03 We always solve parentheses first, even within parentheses this rule applies
00:06 We'll start with the innermost parentheses
00:09 We'll write division when there's
00:12 Division is also multiplication by the reciprocal
00:23 We'll raise the multiplication to the numerator
00:28 Division is also multiplication by the reciprocal
00:34 We'll raise the multiplication to the numerator
00:41 Let's factor 38 into factors of 19 and 2
00:50 Let's factor 6 into factors of 3 and 2
00:58 Let's reduce what we can
01:04 Let's factor 19 into 18 plus 1
01:09 Let's break down the fraction into a whole number and remainder
01:15 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

First, let's write the multiplication exercise in the inner parentheses as a fraction:

38:(6:26)= 38:(6:\frac{2}{6})=

Now let's flip the fraction to create a multiplication exercise:

38:(6×62)= 38:(6\times\frac{6}{2})=

Let's add the 6 to the fraction's numerator to create a multiplication exercise:

38:6×62= 38:\frac{6\times6}{2}=

Let's flip the fraction to create a multiplication exercise:

38×26×6= 38\times\frac{2}{6\times6}=

Let's add the 38 to the fraction's numerator to create a multiplication exercise:

38×26×6= \frac{38\times2}{6\times6}=

Let's break down the 38 and the two 6's in the denominator into smaller multiplication exercises:

19×2×22×3×2×3= \frac{19\times2\times2}{2\times3\times2\times3}=

Let's reduce the 2 in both numerator and denominator:

193×3=199 \frac{19}{3\times3}=\frac{19}{9}

Let's separate the fraction into an addition exercise between fractions:

18+19=189+19=2+19=219 \frac{18+1}{9}=\frac{18}{9}+\frac{1}{9}=2+\frac{1}{9}=2\frac{1}{9}

Answer

219 2\frac{1}{9}