Objective:````

The student will be able to: 

Define fraction, numerator, denominator.

Explain what a fraction.

Perform division and multiplication of fractions

Multiplying Fractions

Multiplying fractions starts with the multiplication of the given

numerators, followed by the multiplication of the denominators. Then,
the resultant fraction is simplified further and reduced to its lowest
terms, if needed.

How to Multiply Fractions?

The multiplication of fractions ism not like the addition or subtraction of

fractions, where the denominator should be the same. Here, any
two fractions with different denominators can easily be multiplied. The
only thing to be kept in mind is that the fractions should not be in the
mixed form, they should either be proper fractions or improper fractions.
Let us learn how to multiply fractions through the following steps:

 Step 1: Multiply the numerators.

 Step 2: Multiply the denominators.
 Step 3: Reduce the resultant fraction to its lowest terms.

For example, let us multiply the following fractions: 1/3 × 3/5. We start
by multiplying the numerators: 1 × 3 = 3, then, the denominators: 3 × 5
= 15. This can be written as: (1 × 3)/(3 × 5) = 3/15. Now, reduce this
value to its lowest form. 3 is the greatest common factor of 3 and 15, so,
divide both 3 and 15 by 3 to simplify the fraction. Therefore, 1/3 × 3/5 =
1/5.
Multiplication of Fr actions Using Visual Models

Now, let us see the visual representation for the multiplication of

fractions. Visualizing the multiplication of fractions using fractional
squares is a very interesting method to understand the concept. Let's
multiply these two fractions: 1/4 × 1/3 using the visual model. Draw
a rectangle and divide its length into 4 equal parts. Each column will
represent 1/4 of the whole rectangle. Now, divide its width into 3 equal
parts such that each portion will represent 1/3. Now, we just have to look
for the portion that is common to both 1/4 and 1/3, which is 1/12th of the
whole rectangle (marked in light orange color in the figure below).
In the figure given above, we can clearly see that 1/12 of the rectangle is
common to both 1/4 and 1/3. It is an overlapping portion. Thus, 1/4 ×
1/3 = 1/12. Now that you have insight into multiplying fractions, let us
explore this topic further.

Rules of Multiplying Fractions

While multiplying fractions, the following rules have to be kept in mind:

 Rule 1: The first rule is to convert mixed fractions to improper

fractions if any. Then, multiply the numerators of the given fractions.
 Rule 2: Multiply the denominators separately.
 Rule 3: Simplify the value obtained to its lowest term.

These three rules can be applied to any two fractions to find their
product. Now, let us learn the individual cases of multiplying fractions
with different types of fractions.
Multiplying Fractions with Same Denominator

Multiplying fractions with the same denominator does not change the
rule of multiplication of fractions. Fractions that have the same
denominator are termed like fractions. Although addition and subtraction
of like fractions are different from the addition and subtraction of unlike
fractions, in the case of multiplication and division the method remains
the same. We multiply the numerators, then the denominators, and then
the fraction is reduced to its lowest terms.

Example: Multiply 1/3 × 5/3

Solution: We can multiply these fractions using the following steps.

 Step 1: Multiply the numerators, 1 × 5 = 5.

 Step 2: Multiply the denominators, 3 × 3 = 9.
 Step 3: The product that we get is 5/9. This cannot be reduced any
further, therefore 5/9 is the answer.
Multiplying Fractions with Different Denominators

Multiplying fractions with unlike denominators is exactly the same as

the multiplication of like fractions. Let us understand this with an
example.

Example: Multiply 4/12 × 16/24.

We can multiply these fractions using the following steps:

 Step 1: Multiply the numerators, 4 × 16 = 64.

 Step 2: Multiply the denominators, 12 × 24 = 288.
 Step 3: The product that we get is 64/288. This can be reduced to 2/9.
Therefore, 2/9 is the answer.

Alternative Method
The same fractions can be multiplied using another method in which we
simplify the fractions among themselves and then multiply the
numerators, then the denominators to get the final product.

Example: Multiply 4/12 × 16/24.

Let us multiply the given fractions using the following steps:

 Step 1: We will simplify the given fractions among themselves. In

other words, these fractions can be reduced to 1/3 × 2/3.
 Step 2: Let us multiply the numerators, 1 × 2 = 2.
 Step 3: Now, let us multiply the denominators, 3 × 3 = 9.
 Step 4: Therefore, the product that we get is 2/9.
Multiplying Fractions with Whole Numbers

Multiplying fractions by whole numbers is an easy concept. As we know

that multiplication is the repeated addition of the same number, this fact
can be applied to fractions as well.

Multiplying Fractions with Whole Numbers Visual Model

Let us consider this example: 4 × 2/3. This means 2/3 is added 4 times.
Let us represent this example using a visual model. Four times two-
thirds is represented as:
Steps of Multiplying Fractions with Whole Numbers

In order to multiply fractions with whole numbers, we use the simple

rule of multiplying the numerators, then multiplying the denominators,
and then reducing them to the lowest terms. However, in the case of
whole numbers, we write them in the fractional form by placing '1' in the
denominator. Let us understand this with an example.

Example: Multiply: 5 × 3/4.

Let us use the following steps to multiply the given fraction with a
whole number.

 Step 1: Here, 5 is a whole number that can be written as 5/1, and then
it can be multiplied as we multiply regular fractions.
 Step 2: This means, we need to multiply 5/1 × 3/4.
 Step 3: Multiply the numerators, 5 × 3 = 15.
 Step 4: Multiply the denominators, 1 × 4 = 4.
 Step 5: The resultant product is 15/4 which cannot be reduced
further.
 Step 6: Since 15/4 is an improper fraction, we will change it to a
mixed fraction, 15/4 = 334334.
Multiplying Fractions with Mixed Numbers

Mixed numbers or mixed fractions are fractions that consist of a whole

number and a proper fraction, like 234234, where 2 is the whole number
and 3/4 is the proper fraction. For multiplying mixed fractions, we need
to change the mixed fractions into an improper fraction before
multiplying. For example, if the number is 223223, we need to change
this to 8/3. Let us understand this with the help of an example.

Example: Multiply 223223 and 314314.

The following steps can be used to multiply fractions with mixed

numbers.

 Step 1: Change the given mixed fractions to improper fractions, i.e.

(8/3) × (13/4).
 Step 2: Multiply the numerators of the improper fractions, and then
multiply the denominators. This will give 104/12.
 Step 3: Now, reduce the resultant fraction to its lowest terms, which
will make it 26/3.
 Step 4: Further, convert the answer back to a mixed fraction which
will be 823823.
Multiplication of Improper Fractions

Now let us understand the multiplication of improper fractions. We

already know that an improper fraction is one where the numerator is
bigger than the denominator. When multiplying two improper fractions,
we frequently end up with an improper fraction. For example, to
multiply 3/2 × 7/5 which are two improper fractions, we need to take the
following steps:

 Step 1: Multiply the numerators and denominators. (3 × 7)/(2 × 5) =

21/10.
 Step 2: The fraction 21/10 cannot be reduced further to its lowest
terms.
 Step 3: Hence, the answer is 21/10 which can be written
as 21102110.

Tips and Tricks of Multiplying Fractions:

Here are a few important tips and tricks which are helpful in the
multiplication of fractions.

 Generally, students simplify a fraction after multiplication. However,

to make calculations easier, check if the two fractions to be multiplied
are already in their lowest forms. If not, first simplify them and then
multiply. For example, 4/12 × 5/13 will be difficult to multiply
directly.
 Now, if we simplify the fraction first, we get:1/3 × 5/13 = 5/39.
 Simplification can also be done across two fractions. If there is
a common factor between the numerator of one of the fractions and
the denominator of the other fraction, you can simplify them and
proceed. For example, 5/28 × 7/9 can be simplified to 5/4 × 1/9
before multiplying.

► Related Topics

 Multiplying Fractions Calculator

 Reciprocal of Fractions
 Multiplying Decimals
 Multiplication and Division of Integers