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Step 1
Change both of the mixed fractions into improper fractions. You do this by multiplying the whole number by the denominator and then adding it to the numerator. In 1-3/4, 4 times 1 = 4 and 4+3 equals 7, so the improper fraction is 7/4. For the next mixed number, 3 times 2 = 6 + 1 = 7, so 3-1/2 would become 7/2. Nothing else in the problem changes. The improper fractions are equal to the mixed fractions.
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Step 2
Flip the second fraction upside down. The upside-down fraction is called the reciprocal. Now you should have 7/4 divided by 2/7. Turn the divided-by sign into a multiplied-by sign. By turning the one fraction upside down, you've changed this from a division problem to a multiplication problem.
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Step 3
Simplify the numbers as much as possible. You do this by seeing if the numerator of one problem and the denominator of the other can go into each other. The 7s of each problem go into each other evenly, so you replace both numbers with a 1. In the second numerator and denominator, the 2 of the first fraction can go into the 4 once, and the 4 would become a 2. After simplifying, you should have 1/2 times 1/1.
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Step 4
Multiply the numerators going across and the denominators in the same fashion. In the numerators, 1 times 1 = 1, and in the denominators, 2 times 1 = 2. Therefore, the final, simplified answer is 1/2.
