What’s Half of 42? Unlocking the Mystery of 21!

What’s Half of 42? Unlocking the Mystery of 21!

If you’ve been asked the question, “What’s half of 42?” then you are not alone. This seemingly simple question has been puzzling people for years, with many struggling to find the answer. In this article, we’ll explore the mystery of half of 42 and unlock the answer once and for all!

The Answer to Half of 42 is 21

The answer is quite simple – half of 42 is 21. It’s important to remember that half of any number is simply half of that number. So, when you divide 42 by 2, you get 21. This applies to all numbers, not just 42.

Why is 21 the Answer?

Now, you may be wondering why the answer to half of 42 is 21 specifically. Well, that’s because 42 is an even number. When you divide an even number by 2, you get another whole number. In this case, 42 divided by 2 equals 21.

Dividing Odd Numbers by 2

Now, what if we tried to divide an odd number by 2? Would we get a whole number as the answer? The short answer is no. When you divide an odd number by 2, you get a decimal or fraction as the answer. For example, if you divide 23 by 2, you get 11.5 as the answer. This is because an odd number cannot be evenly divided by 2.

The Relationship Between Multiplication and Division

To understand how to find half of a number, you need to understand the relationship between multiplication and division. Multiplication is the process of adding a number to itself a certain number of times (e.g. 2 x 3 = 6 means adding 2 three times). Division, on the other hand, is the process of splitting a number into equal parts (e.g. 6 รท 3 = 2 means splitting 6 into three equal parts, each part being 2).

How to Find Half of a Number

Now that we understand the relationship between multiplication and division, we can easily find half of any number. To find half of a number, simply divide that number by 2. For example, to find half of 30, divide 30 by 2, which gives you a result of 15.

Why is Half of 42 Important?

Now that we know the answer to the question, “What’s half of 42?” you may be wondering why it’s even important. Well, there are many reasons why knowing how to find half of a number is useful, and it’s not just for mathematical equations.

1. Cooking and Baking Measurements

When cooking or baking, you often need to adjust a recipe to make more or less food. Knowing how to find half of an ingredient can be helpful when doing this.

2. Splitting Expenses

When splitting expenses with friends, knowing how to find half of a total cost can help ensure that everyone pays an equal amount.

3. Calculating Discounts

When shopping, you may need to calculate a discount. Knowing how to find half of a price can help you quickly determine the sale price.

4. Figuring Out Averages

In statistics, the mean or average is often calculated by adding a series of numbers and then dividing by the total number of values. To find the average for an even number of values, you’ll need to find half of the sum of the two middle numbers.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – the answer to the question, “What’s half of 42?” is 21. By understanding the relationship between multiplication and division, we can easily find half of any number. And knowing how to find half of a number can be incredibly helpful in a variety of everyday scenarios, from cooking to shopping.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s half of 54? – 27.
  • What’s half of 10? – 5.
  • What’s half of 100? – 50.
  • What happens when you divide an odd number by 2? – You get a decimal or fraction as the answer.
  • What’s another way to find half of a number? – You can also multiply the number by 0.5.

References

  • Burns, M. (1999). The Joy of Mathematics: Discovering Mathematics All Around You. Singapore: World Scientific.
  • Steen, L. A. (Ed.). (2001). Mathematics Today: Twelve Informal Essays. New York: Springer.

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