1-3/5: Understanding the Fraction
What is 1-3/5?
1-3/5 is a mixed fraction, which is a combination of a whole number and a fraction. In this case, the whole number is 1 and the fraction is 3/5.
Breaking it Down
To understand 1-3/5, let's break it down into its components:
- 1 is the whole number part, which means we have one complete unit.
- 3/5 is the fraction part, which means we have 3 equal parts out of a total of 5 parts.
Visualizing the Fraction
Imagine you have a pizza that is divided into 5 equal slices. You eat 3 of those slices, which means you've consumed 3/5 of the pizza. Now, imagine you have another whole pizza, which represents the whole number part of 1-3/5. So, in total, you have one whole pizza and 3/5 of another pizza.
Converting to an Improper Fraction
To convert 1-3/5 to an improper fraction, we can multiply the whole number part (1) by the denominator (5) and then add the numerator (3):
(1 x 5) + 3 = 8/5
So, 1-3/5 is equal to the improper fraction 8/5.
Real-World Applications
Understanding fractions like 1-3/5 is essential in everyday life, particularly in cooking, finance, and science. For example, a recipe might require 1-3/5 cups of flour, or a investment might yield a return of 1-3/5 times the initial investment.