Multiplying Fractions

Multiplying a Fraction by a WHOLE number

You know that multiplication is the same as repeated addition:

3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 is the same as 3 x 5

It works the same with fractions:

5 x 1/2 means we need 5 groups of 1/2, which is the same as adding 1/2 five times.

To multiply a whole number by a fraction, multiply the whole number by the numerator of the fraction. The denominator stays the same.

The new result is a fraction with a numerator that is the product of the whole number and the fraction's numerator, the denominator is the fraction's original denominator, which in this case is 2.

Multiplying a Fraction By A Fraction

There are 3 simple steps to multiply fractions

1. Multiply the top numbers (the numerators).

2. Multiply the bottom numbers (the denominators).

3. Simplify the fraction if needed.

Example:

1/2 × 2/5

Step 1. Multiply the top numbers:

1/2 × 2/5 = 1 × 2 = 2

Step 2. Multiply the bottom numbers:

1/2 × 2/5 = 1 × 2/2 × 5 = 2/10

Step 3. Simplify the fraction:

2/10 = 1/5