Final answer:
If a pie is cut into 16 equal pieces, the denominator representing one piece of the pie would be 16; this represents the total number of equal parts the whole is divided into.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you cut a pie into 16 equal pieces, each piece of the pie represents a fraction of the whole pie. The denominator in a fraction tells you into how many equal parts the whole is divided. Since the pie is cut into 16 equal pieces, the denominator of the fraction representing one piece of the pie would be 16. That is because you have divided the pie into 16 equal parts.
Understanding this concept is very important for a strong foundation in fractions. It is similar to knowing how many quarters are in a dollar, where the total number of quarters is the denominator (4), just as the total number of pie pieces is the denominator (16). If you are not stressed about fractions, you'll find this concept fairly straightforward.