$\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{5}{8}=$
Answer (1)
Multiply the numerators: 1 × 5 = 5 .
Multiply the denominators: 2 × 8 = 16 .
The result is 16 5 .
Therefore, 2 1 × 8 5 = 16 5 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are asked to calculate the product of two fractions: 2 1 and 8 5 .
Multiplying Fractions To multiply fractions, we multiply the numerators together and the denominators together. That is, b a × d c = b × d a × c .
Calculation Applying this rule to our problem, we have: 2 1 × 8 5 = 2 × 8 1 × 5 = 16 5
Simplifying the Result The fraction 16 5 is already in its simplest form, as 5 and 16 have no common factors other than 1. As a decimal, 16 5 = 0.3125 .
Examples
Understanding fractions is crucial in everyday situations, such as dividing a pizza or measuring ingredients for a recipe. For instance, if you have half a pizza and you want to share it equally with three friends, you need to divide that half into four equal parts. This involves multiplying fractions to determine the size of each slice. Similarly, when baking, you might need to halve a recipe, which requires multiplying each ingredient amount by 2 1 . These examples highlight how fraction multiplication is a fundamental skill in daily life.
