What is half of 1 1/4 lbs
provide the correct answer and 300 words explanation
To find half of 1 1/4 pounds, follow these steps:
Step 1: Convert the mixed number into an improper fraction.
1 1/4 is a mixed number, meaning it contains a whole number and a fraction. To convert it into an improper fraction:
- Multiply the whole number (1) by the denominator of the fraction (4). This gives 1 × 4 = 4.
- Then add the numerator of the fraction (1) to the result. This gives 4 + 1 = 5.
- Therefore, 1 1/4 is equal to 5/4 as an improper fraction.
Step 2: Find half of the improper fraction.
To find half of a fraction, simply multiply the fraction by 1/2. So, take 5/4 and multiply it by 1/2:
[
\frac{5}{4} \times \frac{1}{2} = \frac{5 \times 1}{4 \times 2} = \frac{5}{8}
]
Step 3: Convert the improper fraction back to a mixed number.
Now that we have 5/8, we can leave it as a fraction since it’s already in its simplest form. If you prefer a decimal, you can divide 5 by 8:
[
5 \div 8 = 0.625
]
So, half of 1 1/4 pounds is 5/8 pounds or 0.625 pounds.
Explanation:
To break down the process:
- Converting mixed numbers to improper fractions is helpful because it makes it easier to perform operations like multiplication. It also ensures that fractions are in a form where calculations can be directly performed.
- Multiplying fractions is a straightforward process where numerators and denominators are multiplied separately. Multiplying 5/4 by 1/2 results in a new fraction, which simplifies to 5/8.
- Converting fractions to decimals helps visualize the result in another format, especially if you need to work with decimal measurements.
Therefore, half of 1 1/4 pounds is either 5/8 pounds or 0.625 pounds.