“Why this⁠ ⁠… division of fractions,” the boy answers crossly. “The division of fractions by fractions.⁠ ⁠…”

“H’m⁠ ⁠… queer boy! What is there in it? There’s nothing to understand in it. Learn the rules, and that’s all.⁠ ⁠… To divide a fraction by a fraction you must multiply the numerator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second, and that will be the numerator of the quotient.⁠ ⁠… In this case, the numerator of the first fraction.⁠ ⁠…”

“I know that without your telling me,” Styopa interrupts him, flicking a walnut shell off the table. “Show me the proof.”

“The proof? Very well, give me a pencil. Listen.⁠ ⁠… Suppose we want to divide seven eighths by two fifths. Well, the point of it is, my boy, that it’s required to divide these fractions by each other.⁠ ⁠… Have they set the samovar?”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s time for tea.⁠ ⁠… It’s past seven. Well, now listen. We will look at it like this.⁠ ⁠… Suppose we want to divide seven eighths not by two fifths but by two, that is, by the numerator only. We divide it, what do we get?”

“Seven sixteenths.”