Final answer:
To create an equivalent fraction to 3/8, multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the same non-zero number. For example, multiplying both by 2 would give the equivalent fraction 6/16.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks for an expression that creates an equivalent fraction to 3/8. To find an equivalent fraction, you can multiply the numerator (top number) and the denominator (bottom number) by the same non-zero number. This is because multiplying by a form of 1 (which any number divided by itself is) does not change the value of the fraction.
For example, if you multiply the numerator and the denominator of 3/8 by 2, you get (3 × 2)/(8 × 2), which simplifies to 6/16. This new fraction is equivalent to 3/8 since we have just scaled up the fraction by multiplying by 2/2, which is essentially multiplying by 1.
It's crucial to understand that as long as we perform the same operation on both the numerator and the denominator, the fraction's value does not change. This principle is a part of the rules of algebra and is key to working with equivalent fractions.