Final answer:
To multiply 16 by 11/12, direct multiplication results in 176/12. Simplifying this by dividing both numerator and denominator by 4, the answer is the reduced improper fraction 44/3.
Step-by-step explanation:
The task is to multiply the whole number 16 by the fraction 11/12. To do this, we can directly multiply the whole number by the numerator of the fraction, giving us 16 × 11 = 176.
Since the denominator does not change when multiplying by a whole number, our fraction remains over 12, so now we have 176/12.
However, we can simplify this fraction by finding common factors. Both numerator and denominator are divisible by 4. Dividing 176 by 4 gives us 44, and dividing 12 by 4 gives us 3. The reduced improper fraction is then 44/3.
Example A.4.1 illustrates a similar process, though with different numbers, showing the reduction of fractions by identifying common factors. As learned in our study of fractions, when multiplying fractions, we need to simplify whenever possible to reach the simplest form, or the reduced improper fraction.