To determine how many ounces the kitten gained before it went home with its new owner, let's follow these steps:
1. Initial Weight of the Kitten:
The initial weight of the kitten was [tex]\( 3 \frac{3}{8} \)[/tex] ounces.
Let's convert this mixed number to an improper fraction:
[tex]\[
3 \frac{3}{8} = 3 + \frac{3}{8} = \frac{24}{8} + \frac{3}{8} = \frac{24 + 3}{8} = \frac{27}{8}
\][/tex]
Converting [tex]\(\frac{27}{8}\)[/tex] to a decimal:
[tex]\[
\frac{27}{8} = 3.375 \text{ ounces}
\][/tex]
2. Final Weight of the Kitten:
The final weight of the kitten was [tex]\( 5 \frac{1}{2} \)[/tex] ounces.
Similarly, let's convert this mixed number to an improper fraction:
[tex]\[
5 \frac{1}{2} = 5 + \frac{1}{2} = \frac{10}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = \frac{10 + 1}{2} = \frac{11}{2}
\][/tex]
Converting [tex]\(\frac{11}{2}\)[/tex] to a decimal:
[tex]\[
\frac{11}{2} = 5.5 \text{ ounces}
\][/tex]
3. Calculate the Weight Gain:
To find out how much weight the kitten gained, subtract the initial weight from the final weight:
[tex]\[
\text{Weight Gain} = \text{Final Weight} - \text{Initial Weight}
\][/tex]
Substituting the decimal values:
[tex]\[
5.5 - 3.375 = 2.125 \text{ ounces}
\][/tex]
4. Convert the Weight Gain Back to a Mixed Number:
To convert the decimal result back to a mixed number, we recognize that:
[tex]\[
2.125 = 2 + 0.125 = 2 + \frac{1}{8} = 2 \frac{1}{8}
\][/tex]
So, the kitten gained [tex]\( 2 \frac{1}{8} \)[/tex] ounces before it went home with its new owner.
The correct answer is:
C. [tex]\( 2 \frac{1}{8} \)[/tex] ounces
