Final answer:
To convert the mixed number 8 1/2 to an improper fraction, multiply the whole number (8) by the fraction's denominator (2) to get 16, then add the numerator (1) to get 17, making the improper fraction 17/2.
Step-by-step explanation:
To express the mixed number 8 1/2 as an improper fraction, you perform the conversion by multiplying the whole number (8) by the denominator of the fraction (2), yielding 16. Adding the numerator of the fraction (1) to this product results in 17. Thus, the improper fraction form becomes 17/2. This process encapsulates the transformation of a mixed number into an improper fraction, emphasizing the combination of the whole number and the fraction's numerator within the new representation, which, in this case, signifies the quantity 17 divided by 2.