Demystifying the One Eighth Fraction - 33rd Square (2024)

Understanding fractions is an essential math skill. But some fractions seem more confusing than others. Let‘s explore the simple but often misunderstood 1/8 fraction. What exactly does "one eighth" mean and how is it used? This fractions guide will cover everything 1/8, from history to real world uses, in easy-to-understand language.

A Quick Fraction Refresher

Before jumping into eighths specifically, let‘s recap what fractions are all about. Fractions represent part of a whole. The top number (numerator) is the count of parts we have. The bottom number (denominator) is the total number of equal parts the whole is split into.

So for 1/8:

• 1 is the numerator – we have one of these parts
• 8 is the denominator – the whole is split into eight equal parts

Pretty straightforward so far!

The Origin of Fractions

Humans have used fractions for millennia. The ancient Egyptians and Babylonians used fractions in commerce and record keeping. But the modern form we recognize emerged in India between 500-200 BC. Early fractions were written using words like "part" or "parts", not numbers.

The first use of fractional notation with a numerator and denominator dates back to the 12th century CE by the Chinese mathematician Qin Jiushao. Fractions became popular in Europe starting in the 16th century. The familiar diagonal fraction line we use today was introduced in 1659 by William Oughtred.

So 1/8 has been around for hundreds of years!

Why Is It Called "Eighth"?

Okay, eighths seem simple enough. But why is 1/8 called "one eighth" specifically?

It helps to think of fractions as a continuation of splitting a whole into pieces:

• Half – Split into two equal parts
• Third – Split into three equal parts
• Fourth – Split into four equal parts

Eighth comes after splitting into seven equal parts. An "eighth" is taking just one of those eight pieces.

Converting 1/8 to Decimal

Fractions can also be represented as decimals to make calculations easier. To convert, we divide the numerator by the denominator.

For 1/8:

1/8 = 1 ÷ 8 = 0.125

So 1/8 as a decimal is 0.125. Straightforward!

Comparing 1/8 to Other Fractions

To understand the relative size of eighths, let‘s compare 1/8 to some common fractions:

• 1/8 < 1/4 – Fourths are larger than eighths
• 1/8 > 1/16 – Sixteenths are smaller than eighths
• 1/8 = 2/16 – Both equal two parts out of sixteen

Visually, 1/8 takes up less area than 1/4 but more than 1/16.

Here‘s a number line showing how 1/8 compares:

As you can see, 1/8 falls between 1/16 and 1/4 in size.

Real World Uses for Eighths

Eighths show up in measurements, food, music, and many other practical applications. Here are a few examples:

• 1 slice of pizza from a whole pizza cut into 8 slices
• 1/8 of an inch – A ruler often shows 1/8 inch markings between the major inch marks
• 1/8 teaspoon of an ingredient in a recipe
• An eighth note – The music note getting one beat in 8/8 time
• 1 lap in an 8 lap car race
• One stop on an 8 stop bus or train route
• A photography aperture of f/1.8 to allow in more light

As you can see, humble eighths are actually used everywhere!

Calculating with 1/8

To get comfortable working with eighths, let‘s go through some example fraction calculations:

Adding Fractions

To add fractions, we just combine the numerators. The denominators stay the same:

1/8 + 3/8 = 4/8

Subtracting Fractions

For subtracting, convert to a common denominator first if needed. Then subtract numerators:

1/8 - 1/16 = 1/8 - 2/16 = -1/16 

Multiplying Fractions

To multiply, just multiply straight across numerators and denominators:

1/8 x 3/4 = 3/32

Dividing Fractions

For dividing, invert the second fraction and multiply:

1/8 ÷ 1/4 = 1/8 x 4/1 = 4/8 = 1/2

Let‘s practice a few together!

What is 1/4 of 1/8?

1/4 1/8
Numerators: 1 1 = 1
Denominators: 4 * 8 = 32
Answer: 1/32

If you take 1/8 cup of milk away from 1/2 cup, how much remains?

1/2 cup – 1/8 cup
Convert to a common denominator:
1/2 cup – 2/16 cup
Subtract numerators:
3/16 cup remains

Great job! With practice, fraction math becomes second nature.

Comparing Fraction Types

There are a few major fraction categories:

• Proper fraction – Numerator is less than denominator (e.g. 1/8)
• Improper fraction – Numerator is greater than denominator (e.g. 10/4)
• Mixed number – Whole number + proper fraction (e.g. 1 1/8)

1/8 is a proper fraction, since 1 is less than 8.

Improper fractions and mixed numbers can easily be converted into regular proper fractions when needed for calculations.

Visualizing 1/8

Pictures make fractions much easier. Here are some ways to visualize 1/8:

As you can see, 1/8 represents just a small sliver when splitting something into eighths.

FAQs about 1/8

Let‘s go over some common questions about eighths:

What does 1/8 mean in math?
1/8 means one equal part out of eight equal parts. It is one slice of the whole after dividing it into eight pieces.

What is 1/8 of 12?
To take 1/8 of any number, multiply it by 1/8. 1/8 of 12 is:

12 x 1/8 = 12 x 0.125 = 1.5

What is 1/8 as a percentage?
To convert a fraction to a percentage, divide the numerator by the denominator and multiply by 100:

1/8 as a percentage = (1/8) x 100 = 12.5%

How do you write one eighth as a decimal?
1/8 = 0.125

We simply divide 1 by 8.

What is 1/8 in mm?
1/8 of an inch is approximately:

• 3.175 mm
• 0.3175 cm

What’s bigger, 1/4 or 1/8?
1/4 is bigger than 1/8. Fourths represent larger pieces than eighths.

Teaching 1/8 to Children

Here are some tips for teaching eighths fractions to children:

• Use visuals – fraction strips, pizzas, and circle charts to demonstrate eighths
• Practice counting by eighths – 1/8, 2/8, 3/8 and so on
• Have them shade in 1/8 on worksheets and compare it to other fractions
• Use real world examples they relate to – pizza, brownies, rulers, race tracks
• Reinforce with games and activities – fraction bingo, arts and crafts

The hands-on activities make it stick!

Why Fractions Matter

As we‘ve seen with simple 1/8, fractions provide the foundation for more advanced math concepts. A solid understanding of fractions helps with:

• Percentages – Fractions are converted to percents
• Decimals – Fractions can be changed into decimals
• Algebra – Fractions are used constantly in algebraic equations
• Measurement – Fractions are used in both metric and imperial units
• Ratios & Proportions – Built from fractional relationships
• Data Analysis – Fractions help interpret and calculate stats

Mastering fractions unlocks success in nearly all higher math fields. Even simpler ones like 1/8 are important building blocks.

Conclusion

We covered a lot of ground learning about the humble 1/8 fraction. To recap:

• 1/8 represents one part out of eight equal portions
• It dates back centuries and comes from splitting into eighths
• It has many real world applications, from recipes to music
• 1/8 can be compared to other fractions and converted to decimals
• Fractions like 1/8 establish skills for more complex math

Hopefully this guide helped demystify this foundational fraction. Eighths may seem forgettable at first, but they have more impact than you might think! Understanding 1/8 is an important step on the lifelong journey of math discovery.

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