Final answer:
Kyle originally had 1 and 5/8 pies before giving away portions to Caleb and Axel. To find this, we add the fractions of pies given away (3/8 and 4/8) to the fraction left (6/8), resulting in 13/8, which simplifies to 1 and 5/8 pies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Fractions and Pie Division
Kyle had a certain number of pies at first. He gave away portions of these pies to two individuals and was left with the remainder of the pie. To determine how many pies Kyle had originally, we need to add up the total fractions of pies given away and the fraction remaining. Kyle gave 3/8 of a pie to Caleb and 4/8 of a pie to Axel, totaling 7/8 of a pie. Adding the fraction he had left, 6/8, gives us 13/8. This means Kyle must have started with 13/8 pies, or 1 and 5/8 pies.
Calculating the starting number of pies involves understanding the concept of fraction addition and the representation of parts of a whole. This problem helps reinforce the idea that fractions represent parts of a whole and that we can combine them to find a total. Whether we think about dividing pies into five slices and keeping three, or combining fractions as pieces of a whole, the understanding of fractions is crucial. For example, when considering if two thirds of a pie is more or less than half, the knowledge that one third is more than one quarter because dividing a pie into three parts results in larger pieces than splitting it into four parts helps us see that two thirds is indeed more than half.