In music, what does a dotted eighth note represent?

A dotted eighth note indicates a specific duration of time in music. The dot placed after the note extends its value by half of its original duration. An eighth note typically has a value of one beat if the context is in a 4/4 time signature. Therefore, adding a dot to it increases its duration by half of an eighth note's value.

Since half of an eighth note is a sixteenth note, the dotted eighth note is equivalent to one eighth note (1 beat) plus that sixteenth note (0.5 beats), which altogether sums up to one and a half eighth note beats. This is the reason why the correct answer is that a dotted eighth note represents one and a half eighth note beats. This concept is foundational in understanding rhythm and time signatures in music, as precise note values are essential for proper timing and development of musical phrases.