In the mixture, what fraction is water?

In the mixture, what fraction is water?

• A. 4/8
• B. 3/8
• C. 2/8
• D. 5/8

Answer: (D)

Fractions describe how much of a whole you have. If the diagram divides the mixture into eight equal parts and water fills five of those parts, then water is five eighths of the mixture. The other options would correspond to fewer water parts (four eighths would be half, three eighths would be less than half, two eighths would be a quarter). Since the diagram shows five parts as water, the fraction is five eighths.

Fractions describe how much of a whole you have. If the diagram divides the mixture into eight equal parts and water fills five of those parts, then water is five eighths of the mixture. The other options would correspond to fewer water parts (four eighths would be half, three eighths would be less than half, two eighths would be a quarter). Since the diagram shows five parts as water, the fraction is five eighths.