What is 1/6 of 42?

How to calculate 1/6 of 42?

1. Multiply the whole number by the numerator of the fraction: 42 × 1 = 42
2. Divide this result by denominator of the fraction: 42/6 = 7
3. Simplify by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their GCD (6):
   • 42/6 = 7
   • 6/6 = 1
4. Which gives: 7/1

How does it work?

The principle behind finding a fraction of a number, such as 1/6 of 42, is rooted in the method of cross-multiplication.

Consider the following proportion: $\frac{1}{6}=\frac{x}{42}$ (where x represents 1/6 of 42)

1. Using the cross-multiplication method, multiply both numerators by their opposite denominators: $1\times 42=6x$
2. Which gives: $42=6x$
3. Divide both sides by 6 to isolate x: $\frac{42}{6}=\frac{6x}{6}$
4. Which gives the result: $\frac{42}{6}=x$ (or $\frac{7}{1}=x$)

Thus, 1/6 of 42 is equal to 7/1 (or 7 in its decimal form).