So, when there’s talk about 2 / 8 division, the result is 1/4th. You’re marking only one square of the two initial squares divided into four each, which is 1/8th. We know that 2/8th == 1/4th so if you want to mark one square only, you need to divide the two initial squares into two each, and then mark single cell.
You did for 1/4th:
[_|x]
[_|_]
[_|_]
[_|_]
and it should have been:
[_|x] [xx]
[_|_] [__]
[_|x] [__]
[_|_] or [__]
Hi @No1ever,
Thank you for raising this question and apologies for any confusion.
I believe what Ben is saying is that if have a single unit broken into 8 pieces, you can split that initial block into 2 equal parts.
Then, rather than coloring 1 piece from each, he’s discounting the second block and only coloring a single piece in the first block, which is the same as 1/4 of that block.
You’re completely right that if you only color in 1 of the 8 units when it’s a single large block then that would be the same as 1/8.
Your second diagram is also spot on.
By removing the central dividing line you’re changing the colored area from being 2/8 to 1/4 and is a very nice way of looking at it.