Ashelf can support 5 5/8 pounds. if a book weighs 5/8 of a pound, how many books can the shelf hold?

If you do 5 5/8 divided by 5/8 your answer will be 9. 

Hope this helps!

 "9 books" .


5  5/8 ÷ 5/8 =  

45/8 ÷ 5/8 =  
45/8  * 8/5  = ?  ;  The "8's" cancel to "1's" since "8÷8=1" ;
                     The "45" cancels to a ""; and the "5" cancels to a "1" ; 
                                since "45÷5=9" ; and "5÷5 =1 "

 and rewrite as:  9/1 * 1/1 = 9 *1 = 9.

The answer is:  9 books .