What is 3/8 of 6?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking us to calculate what three eighths (3/8) of the number six (6) is. To solve this, we will multiply 6 by the fraction 3/8.
Answer
The answer is $\frac{9}{4}$ or $2 \frac{1}{4}$.
Answer for screen readers
The value of three eighths of the number six is $\frac{9}{4}$ or $2 \frac{1}{4}$.
Steps to Solve
-
Identify the operation needed
We need to multiply the number 6 by the fraction $\frac{3}{8}$. -
Set up the multiplication
We'll write the multiplication in a mathematical form:
$$ 6 \times \frac{3}{8} $$ -
Convert whole number to fraction
To make multiplication easier, convert the whole number 6 into a fraction:
$$ 6 = \frac{6}{1} $$ -
Multiply the fractions
Now we can multiply the two fractions:
$$ \frac{6}{1} \times \frac{3}{8} = \frac{6 \times 3}{1 \times 8} = \frac{18}{8} $$ -
Simplify the fraction
Next, we simplify the fraction $\frac{18}{8}$.
Both the numerator and denominator can be divided by 2:
$$ \frac{18 \div 2}{8 \div 2} = \frac{9}{4} $$ -
Convert to mixed number (if desired)
The fraction $\frac{9}{4}$ can also be expressed as a mixed number:
$$ 2 \frac{1}{4} $$
The value of three eighths of the number six is $\frac{9}{4}$ or $2 \frac{1}{4}$.
More Information
This problem demonstrates how to work with fractions, specifically multiplying a whole number by a fraction. It's important to remember that fractions can often be simplified for clarity.
Tips
- Forgetting to convert the whole number to a fraction can lead to confusion during multiplication.
- Not simplifying the final fraction can result in a less clear answer.
