Answer: [tex]6 \frac{1}{2}[/tex]
This is the same as writing 6 & 1/2 or 6 1/2
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Explanation:
Notice that 13/2 = 6.5
So we can have 6 full vials, plus a bit left over. The leftover bit is 0.5 which converts to 1/2
So 6.5 in decimal form converts to the mixed number [tex]6 \frac{1}{2}[/tex]
This mixed number does not mean 6 times 1/2. It means 6 whole vials plus another 1/2 a vial. The notation is probably a bit confusing. It might be easier to say [tex]6 + \frac{1}{2}[/tex], but the drawback is now things are a bit clunky.
On a keyboard, we could write [tex]6 \frac{1}{2}[/tex] as 6 & 1/2 or as 6 1/2. The spacing is important to separate out the whole and fractional parts.
To be perfectly honest, I don't like the notation 6 1/2 because to me it seems too vague, and it might be mistaken for 61/2. I prefer the 6 & 1/2 notation more since it's more descriptive and we wouldn't have a mix-up. But be sure to type in the answer in the format your teacher wants.
