What fraction is equivalent to 3/8 and has four as the denominator?

1 Answer
Geoff K.
Apr 8, 2018

The fraction is #1.5/4#.

Explanation:

We start with the fraction #3/8# and we want to change it to a fraction over 4.

We remember that multiplying (or dividing) a number by 1 doesn't change the value of a number. (For example #7 xx 1# is still #7#, and #2.5 -: 1# is still #2.5#.)

We also remember that the number 1 can be expressed in many forms. Like #1," "3-2," "0.1 xx 10," "5/5,# etc.

We choose one of these wacky ways that helps us. In this case, we'll choose #2/2#.

Thus:

#3/8=3/8 -: 1#

#color(white)(3/8)=3/8 -: 2/2#

#color(white)(3/8)=(3-:2)/(8-:2)#

#color(white)(3/8)=(1.5)/(4)#

Now you can see why we chose #2/2#, because #8-:2=4#, which is the denominator we wanted.

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