A recipe calls for 2/3 cup of sugar. You have only 1/2 cup of sugar. What fraction of the recipe can you make?

A recipe calls for 2/3 cup of sugar. You have only 1/2 cup of sugar. What fraction of the recipe can you make?

• A. 2/3
• B. 3/4
• C. 1/2
• D. 3/5

Answer: (B)

To figure out what fraction of the recipe you can make, compare what you have to what the recipe requires. You have 1/2 cup, the recipe needs 2/3 cup. The fraction of the recipe you can make is (1/2) ÷ (2/3). Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal, so (1/2) × (3/2) = 3/4. So you can make three-quarters of the recipe. A quick check: three-quarters of the required sugar is (3/4) × (2/3) = 1/2 cup, which matches what you have.

To figure out what fraction of the recipe you can make, compare what you have to what the recipe requires. You have 1/2 cup, the recipe needs 2/3 cup. The fraction of the recipe you can make is (1/2) ÷ (2/3). Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal, so (1/2) × (3/2) = 3/4. So you can make three-quarters of the recipe. A quick check: three-quarters of the required sugar is (3/4) × (2/3) = 1/2 cup, which matches what you have.