How would I make a mixed number into a improper fraction?

This mixed number  Each whole apple contains two half apples. Your two whole apples are also four half apples. Four half apples plus one half apple is five half apples. So you have ⁵/2 apples.

To put this another way: to turn a mixed number into a fraction, multiply the whole number by the denominator (the bottom part), and add the result to the numerator (the top part).

2 ¹/2 = ?
  Multiply the whole number by the denominator.
    The whole number is 2.
    The denominator is 2.
    2 x 2 = 4.
  Add the result to the numerator:
    The numerator is 1.
    4 + 1 = 5
  The numerator is 5. The denominator remains 2.
2 ¹/2 =  ⁵/2

This is best shown by an example....

8 + 1/3

1. Multiply the "3" in the denominator  of the fraction by the '8'  = 24

2. Add the "1'  in the numerator of the fraction to this = 25

3. Put this result "over" the denominator of the fraction = 25/3

And that's it......you should be able to do any of these, now

P.S. - Check for yourself that 25/3  =   8 + 1/3 .....!!!

Thanks...ZLY ...!!!