Which fraction is equivalent to 2/8
The correct Answer and Explanation is:
The fraction 2/8 is equivalent to 1/4.
Explanation:
Fractions represent a part of a whole, where the top number (numerator) shows how many parts we have, and the bottom number (denominator) shows how many equal parts the whole is divided into. In this case, the fraction 2/8 means we have 2 parts out of 8 equal parts.
To find an equivalent fraction, we can simplify the fraction. Simplification means reducing the fraction to its simplest form without changing its value. We do this by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor (GCF). The GCF is the largest number that can evenly divide both the numerator and the denominator.
For 2 and 8, the GCF is 2. Here’s the step-by-step simplification:
- Identify the GCF: The numbers 2 (numerator) and 8 (denominator) share a greatest common factor of 2.
- Divide both the numerator and denominator by the GCF:
[
\frac{2}{8} = \frac{2 \div 2}{8 \div 2} = \frac{1}{4}
]
So, 2/8 simplifies to 1/4, meaning that 2 parts out of 8 is the same as 1 part out of 4. Visually, if you imagine a pie cut into 8 slices, taking 2 of those slices is the same as taking 1 slice from a pie cut into 4 slices.
Simplifying fractions is important in math because it makes numbers easier to work with, compare, and understand. Equivalent fractions like 2/8 and 1/4 represent the same proportion of a whole but are expressed differently.