1/3 x 8 in simplest form

1/3 x 8 in simplest form

The Correct Answer and Explanation is :

To find the simplest form of ( \frac{1}{3} \times 8 ), you can follow these steps:

1. Multiply the Fraction by the Whole Number: You can treat the whole number ( 8 ) as a fraction by writing it as ( \frac{8}{1} ). Thus, the expression becomes:
   [
   \frac{1}{3} \times \frac{8}{1}
   ]
2. Multiply the Numerators and Denominators: When multiplying fractions, multiply the numerators (the top parts) together and the denominators (the bottom parts) together:
   [
   \text{Numerator: } 1 \times 8 = 8
   ]
   [
   \text{Denominator: } 3 \times 1 = 3
   ]
   So, the product of the fractions is:
   [
   \frac{8}{3}
   ]
3. Simplifying the Fraction: The fraction ( \frac{8}{3} ) is already in its simplest form because 8 and 3 have no common factors other than 1. The fraction represents a division of 8 by 3, which cannot be simplified further in terms of reducing it.
4. Converting to a Mixed Number (if necessary): If you want to express ( \frac{8}{3} ) as a mixed number, you can divide 8 by 3. The whole number part is 2 (since ( 3 \times 2 = 6 )) and the remainder is 2. Therefore, you can write:
   [
   \frac{8}{3} = 2 \frac{2}{3}
   ]

In conclusion, the simplest form of ( \frac{1}{3} \times 8 ) is ( \frac{8}{3} ), or ( 2 \frac{2}{3} ) if you prefer a mixed number. Understanding how to multiply fractions and simplify results is a key skill in mathematics, helping to manage calculations efficiently and accurately.