One yard of a ribbon costs 3 1/2 dollars. How much should one pay for 5/8 yards?

Multiply the cost per yard by the number of yards bought.

Change 3 1/2 to an improper fraction:

3 1/2 = 7/2

Now you have 7/2 x 5/8

Multiply the top numbers together and then the bottom numbers together:

(7 x 5) / (2 x 8) = 35/16

Now rewrite the improper fraction as a proper fraction:

2 3/16 which would be $2.19