Math Doubts

Division of Literals

A mathematical approach of dividing a literal number by another for calculating their quotient is called the division of literals.

Introduction

In arithmetic mathematics, you have studied how to divide any number by another number. Now, you are going to learn how to divide any literal by another literal number. In algebra, there are two cases for dividing them. So, let’s learn both the cases from some understandable examples in order to find their quotients.

Dividing the same literals

Let us learn how to divide a literal by the same literal firstly.

$a \div a$

$a$ is a literal number and divide it by the same literal. In this case, there are two $a$ symbols. In fact, the value of $a$ is unknown but their quotient is equal to one due to the equal quantities of the literals.

$\implies$ $a \div a = \dfrac{a}{a}$

$\implies$ $a \div a = \require{cancel} \dfrac{\cancel{a}}{\cancel{a}}$

$\,\,\, \therefore \,\,\,\,\,\,$ $a \div a = 1$

Examples

$(1) \,\,\,\,\,$ $d \div d \,=\, \dfrac{d}{d} \,=\, 1$

$(1) \,\,\,\,\,$ $f \div f \,=\, \dfrac{f}{f} \,=\, 1$

$(1) \,\,\,\,\,$ $z \div z \,=\, \dfrac{z}{z} \,=\, 1$

Dividing the different literals

Let’s learn how to divide two different literal numbers.

$a \div b$

$a$ and $b$ are two different literal numbers, but their values are unknown. So, it is impossible to evaluate their quotient. Therefore, the quotient of them is simply written as an expression in algebraic mathematics.

$\implies$ $a \div b$ $\,=\,$ $\dfrac{a}{b}$

Examples

$(1) \,\,\,\,\,$ $c \div d \,=\, \dfrac{c}{d}$

$(2) \,\,\,\,\,$ $j \div k \,=\, \dfrac{j}{k}$

$(3) \,\,\,\,\,$ $x \div y \,=\, \dfrac{x}{y}$

Math Doubts

A best free mathematics education website for students, teachers and researchers.

Maths Topics

Learn each topic of the mathematics easily with understandable proofs and visual animation graphics.

Maths Problems

Learn how to solve the math problems in different methods with understandable steps and worksheets on every concept for your practice.

Learn solutions

Subscribe us

You can get the latest updates from us by following to our official page of Math Doubts in one of your favourite social media sites.

Copyright © 2012 - 2022 Math Doubts, All Rights Reserved