Answer:
Each package will contain 1/2 pound of meat.
Explanation:
To divide 8 1/2 pounds of hamburger meat into 17 equal packages using fractions, you need to divide the total weight by the number of packages:
First, convert the mixed number 8 1/2 to an improper fraction:
(8 * 2) + 1 = 16 + 1 = 17
So, 8 1/2 = 17/2
Now, divide 17/2 pounds by 17 packages. Since division is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal, we'll multiply by the reciprocal of 17, which is 1/17:
(17/2) * (1/17)
Multiply the numerators together (17 * 1 = 17) and the denominators together (2 * 17 = 34):
17/34
Simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (17):
17 ÷ 17 = 1
34 ÷ 17 = 2
So, the simplified fraction is 1/2.