1. **State the problem:** Bethany has 4 1/2 cups of trail mix and wants to fill snack bags that each hold 3/8 cups. We need to find how many snack bags she can make. 2. **Convert mixed number to improper fraction:** $$4 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{9}{2}$$ 3. **Set up the division to find the number of bags:** We divide the total amount of trail mix by the amount per bag: $$\frac{9}{2} \div \frac{3}{8}$$ 4. **Use the division rule for fractions:** Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal: $$\frac{9}{2} \times \frac{8}{3}$$ 5. **Multiply the fractions:** $$\frac{9 \times 8}{2 \times 3} = \frac{72}{6}$$ 6. **Simplify the fraction:** $$\frac{\cancel{72}^{12}}{\cancel{6}^{1}} = 12$$ 7. **Interpret the result:** Bethany can make 12 snack bags. **Final answer:** $$12\text{ bags}$$