Answer:
40 students gave their speeches.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anytime in math that it says the word "of" it means multiplication. So, in this situation, we are multiplying:
(5/8) x 64.
But, when you are multiplying a fraction by a number, you are actually dividing instead of multiplying. Think of it this way: the question is asking you 5/8 <em>of</em> 64, meaning you must find how many is 5/8 <em>of</em> the amount of students that gave their speeches is. Also, that slash between the 5 and the 8 in the fraction is actually a division symbol. So, by placing 5/8 into 64, we get:
(5/8) x 64 = 40.
I'm quite sure why it asked for "simplest form" when the answer is not a decimal or fraction, but this is the answer to the problem that you have posted.
I hope that this helps.
