Final answer:
To convert 36/8 to a mixed number, divide 36 by 8 to get 4 with a remainder of 4, resulting in 4 4/8, which simplifies to 4 1/2 in its simplest form.
Step-by-step explanation:
To turn the improper fraction 36/8 into a mixed number in its simplest form, you first need to see how many whole numbers you can get from 36 when divided by 8.
Dividing 36 by 8, you get 4 with a remainder of 4 (since 36 = 4 × 8 + 4). Thus, you represent the remainder over the original divisor to obtain the fractional part. Therefore, the mixed number is 4 4/8.
To simplify, you can divide both the numerator and the denominator of the fractional part by their greatest common divisor, which in this case is 4, simplifying it to 1/2. Hence, the simplest form of the mixed number is 4 1/2.