When the whole is the same, why does it take six copies of 1 eighth to equal three copies of 1 fourth

It takes 6 copies of 1 eighth to equal three copies because 1/2 =\ 1/6. We know 1/6 is less than a 1/2 so we can set up an equation to see how many copies are needed for them to be equal. 1/6x = 1/2.