What is Half of 21 an 1 over 8?

What is Half of 21 an 1 over 8?

Half of 21 and 1/8 can be calculated as follows:

1. Find half of 21, which is 21/2 = 10.5.
2. Add 1/8 to 10.5, which results in 10.5 + 1/8 = 10.625.

So, half of 21 and 1/8 is 10.625. It is the result of taking half of 21 and then adding 1/8 to the result.

Finding Half of a Mixed Number

Mixed numbers contain both whole number and fractional parts. Finding half of a mixed number requires dividing both components by 2 separately. Let’s walk through the steps to calculate half of 21 and 1/8.

Restating the Mixed Number

We first need to rewrite 21 and 1/8 as an improper fraction:

21 and 1/8 = 21 (8/8) + 1/8 = (21 * 8)/8 + 1/8 = 168/8 + 1/8 = 169/8

This converts the mixed number into a regular improper fraction for easier calculation.

Dividing by 2

To find half:

169/8 divided by 2

When dividing fractions, we keep the denominator the same and divide the numerator by 2:

169/2 / 8 = 84.5/8

Converting Back to Mixed Number

The result 84.5/8 can be expressed as a mixed number by splitting into whole and fractional parts:

84.5/8 = 10 + 4.5/8

Therefore, half of 21 and 1/8 is: 10 and 4.5/8

Checking the Work

We can multiply the result by 2 to verify:

(10 + 4.5/8) * 2 = 20 + 9/8 = 21 + 1/8

Getting back the original confirms the calculation of half is correct.

Converting mixed numbers to improper fractions makes operations like finding halves, thirds, fourths, etc. more straightforward. Mastering mixed fractions builds understanding and skills.

In summary, to find half of a mixed number, first convert it to an improper fraction, then divide the numerator by 2 while keeping the denominator the same.