The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer to the question “What is 1/2 of 150?” is 75.
This mathematical problem asks you to calculate a fraction of a whole number. The phrase “one half of” is a common way of expressing the operation of division by two or multiplication by the fraction 1/2. Both approaches will yield the same correct result. Understanding this concept is fundamental to working with fractions, percentages, and proportions in everyday life.
The most direct way to solve this problem is to recognize that finding half of a number is equivalent to dividing that number by 2. The calculation is therefore 150 divided by 2. To perform this division mentally, you can break the number 150 into more manageable parts. For example, 150 can be seen as the sum of 100 and 50. First, you find half of 100, which is 50. Next, you find half of 50, which is 25. By adding these two results together, you get the final answer: 50 + 25 = 75. This method, known as partitioning, simplifies mental arithmetic and makes it easier to handle larger numbers without a calculator.
Alternatively, you can approach the problem through multiplication. The fraction 1/2 is numerically equivalent to the decimal 0.5. Therefore, finding “1/2 of 150” is the same as multiplying 150 by 0.5. The calculation would be 150 times 0.5. Multiplying any number by 0.5 will always result in half of that number. Performing this multiplication, 150 × 0.5, gives you 75. This confirms the answer obtained through division.
This type of calculation has many practical, real world applications. For instance, if a recipe is designed to make 150 cookies, but you only want to make half a batch, you would need to adjust all the ingredients to serve 75. Similarly, if you have 150 dollars and decide to save half of it, you would put 75 dollars into your savings. Understanding how to find half of a number is a crucial skill for budgeting, cooking, and various other daily tasks.
