To express \(3.38\) as a mixed number, we can follow these steps:
- Separate the whole number part from the decimal part. The whole number part is \(3\).
- Convert the decimal part \(0.38\) into a fraction.
To convert \(0.38\) into a fraction:
- Recognize that \(0.38\) is the same as \(\frac{38}{100}\).
- Simplify \(\frac{38}{100}\) by finding the greatest common divisor (GCD) of \(38\) and \(100\). The GCD is \(2\).
- Divide both the numerator and the denominator by \(2\): \[ \frac{38 \div 2}{100 \div 2} = \frac{19}{50}. \]
Now, we can combine the whole number part with the fraction:
\[ 3.38 = 3 + 0.38 = 3 + \frac{19}{50} = 3 \frac{19}{50}. \]
Thus, \(3.38\) expressed as a mixed number is
\[ \boxed{3 \frac{19}{50}}. \]