Ellen divides a piece of fabric into 8 equal sections by drawing chalk lines. Then she cuts off 5 of the sections to make into placemats. What fraction of the fabric is left?

3/8

Step-by-step explanation:

Let us represent the total fabric as an integer = 1

Ellen divides a piece of fabric into 8 equal sections by drawing chalk lines.

= 1/8, hence each section = 1/8

Then she cuts off 5 of the sections to make into placemats.

This is written as: 5 sections × 1/8 = 5/8

The fraction of the fabric that is left is calculated as:

1 - 5/8

Lowest Common Denominator = 8

Hence: 8 - 5/8 = 3/8

The fraction of the fabric that is left is 3/8