Question

What is the value of 1/5 × 1/2 of a rectangle that is divided into fifths? Explain how the model can be utilized to find the solution.

Answer 1

To find 1/5 × 1/2 of a rectangle divided into fifths, take one of the five equal parts of the rectangle and then take half of that part. This results in 1/10 of the whole rectangle.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked about finding the value of 1/5 × 1/2 of a rectangle that is divided into fifths. To solve this, imagine a rectangle divided into 5 equal parts. If we take one of those fifths and then want to calculate what half of it is, we essentially want to find out what 1/10 of the whole rectangle is, because half of a fifth is a tenth.

To utilize the model, we follow these steps:

1. Understand that 1/5 represents one part of the five equal parts of a rectangle.
2. Next, calculate half of that part by multiplying 1/5 by 1/2, which gives 1/10.
3. Conclude that 1/10 of the rectangle is the area we are seeking.