Question

What is half of $1\dfrac{1}{2}$ teaspoons?

Answer 1

Hint: For this question, we need to know how to convert from mixed fractions to improper fractions. We first need to find how $1\dfrac{1}{2}$ teaspoons are represented in improper form. Then we divide that result by 2 to get the solution to the given problem.

Complete step by step solution:
We are required to find what half of $1\dfrac{1}{2}$ teaspoons are. To do this, we need to first convert $1\dfrac{1}{2}$ teaspoons to an improper fraction format.
We all know how to convert a mixed fraction to an improper fraction format. If $a\dfrac{b}{c}$ represents a mixed fraction, then its improper form can be represented as $\dfrac{\left( c.a+b \right)}{c}.$ Here, a, b and c are all integers.
Using this, we convert $1\dfrac{1}{2}$ to an improper fraction as follows,
$\Rightarrow 1\dfrac{1}{2}=\dfrac{\left( 1\times 2+1 \right)}{2}$
Multiplying 2 with 1 and adding 1 in the numerator term, we get 3.
$\Rightarrow \dfrac{3}{2}$
Therefore, $1\dfrac{1}{2}$ teaspoons can be represented as $\dfrac{3}{2}$ teaspoons in improper fractions. We are now required to find what half of this quantity yields. In order to do so, we multiply $\dfrac{3}{2}$ teaspoons with half or $\dfrac{1}{2}.$
$\Rightarrow \dfrac{1}{2}\times \dfrac{3}{2}$
Multiplying the numerators and denominators, we get
$\Rightarrow \dfrac{3}{4}$
Therefore, half of $\dfrac{3}{2}$ teaspoons is nothing but $\dfrac{3}{4}$ teaspoons. This is already in its proper fraction form; therefore, we do not need to convert this to mixed fraction form. We can represent this in decimal format as,
$\Rightarrow \dfrac{3}{4}=0.75$ teaspoons
Hence, half of $1\dfrac{1}{2}$ teaspoons is $\dfrac{3}{4}$ teaspoon.

Note: To solve this question easily, students are required to have a good understanding in the topic of fractions. Conversion of fractions is what is used here to solve this problem. We can solve this problem without using conversion of fractions by taking half of 1 teaspoon and half of $\dfrac{1}{2}$ teaspoon and adding the two. We end up getting the same result in this case too.