what is a half of 3/4

losagas

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15-04-2025

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Finding half of 3/4 might seem tricky, but it's a straightforward process using basic fraction manipulation. This guide breaks it down step-by-step, explaining the concept and providing a practical example. Understanding this concept is fundamental for mastering fractions and tackling more complex math problems.

Understanding Fractions

Before diving into the calculation, let's refresh our understanding of fractions. A fraction represents a part of a whole. It consists of two numbers: a numerator (the top number) and a denominator (the bottom number). The numerator indicates how many parts we have, while the denominator shows how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

For example, in the fraction 3/4, 3 is the numerator and 4 is the denominator. This means we have 3 out of 4 equal parts of a whole.

Finding Half of 3/4: The Steps

To find half of 3/4, we need to divide 3/4 by 2. Here's how:

Step 1: Rewrite the whole number as a fraction.

We can rewrite the whole number 2 as a fraction by placing it over 1: 2/1. This doesn't change its value, but it makes the division easier.

Step 2: Change the division to multiplication by inverting the second fraction.

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal (flipping the numerator and denominator). So, instead of dividing 3/4 by 2/1, we'll multiply 3/4 by 1/2:

(3/4) ÷ (2/1) = (3/4) x (1/2)

Step 3: Multiply the numerators and the denominators.

Multiply the numerators together (top numbers) and the denominators together (bottom numbers):

(3 x 1) / (4 x 2) = 3/8

Therefore, half of 3/4 is 3/8.

Visualizing the Solution

Imagine a pizza cut into four equal slices. 3/4 of the pizza represents three of those slices. To find half of that, you would split those three slices in half, resulting in six smaller slices. Since the whole pizza was initially cut into four slices, and we now have six smaller slices, each smaller slice represents 1/8 of the pizza. Therefore, half of 3/4 is 3/8.

Practical Application

Understanding how to find half of a fraction is useful in many real-world situations. For instance:

• Cooking: If a recipe calls for 3/4 of a cup of flour, and you want to halve the recipe, you'll need 3/8 of a cup.
• Sewing: If you need 3/4 of a yard of fabric and only want to use half, you will need 3/8 of a yard.
• Construction: If a project requires 3/4 of a board and you need half the amount, you would only need 3/8 of the board.

Conclusion

Finding half of 3/4, or indeed half of any fraction, involves simple steps of converting whole numbers to fractions, inverting the divisor, and then performing multiplication. Remember that mastering fraction manipulation is key to success in various mathematical and practical applications. Now you have a clear understanding of what half of 3/4 is and how to solve similar problems!