How to Multiply Fractions?
What is a Fraction?
A fraction is a number that divides a whole number into equal parts. A fraction tells us how many parts we have from the whole part. We can identify a fraction by a slash operator written between two numbers. A fraction is made up of the two parts, which is the numerator and the denominator. For example, 1/2 is a fraction that means the top of the number 1 is the numerator, and the bottom number of the fraction 2 is the denominator. Fractions are three types.
1. Proper Fraction: Proper fraction is that fraction where the numerator is less than the denominator.
2. Improper Fraction: Improper fraction is that fraction where the numerator is greater than the denominator.
3. Mixed Fraction: The combination of a whole number and a proper fraction is known as the mixed fraction.
How to multiply fractions?
Let us learn how we can multiply fractions. There are some cases to multiply fractions. These cases are given below:
Case 1: Proper fractions
To multiply the proper fractions, we can follow these steps:
- Firstly, we simplify the fractions if they are not in the lowest terms.
- Then, multiply the fraction’s numerators to get the new numerator.
- Finally, multiply the fraction’s denominators to get the new denominator.
Case 2: Improper fractions
We will follow all the steps of the proper fraction to solve the Improper fraction.
Case 3: Mixed fractions
To multiply the mixed fractions, we will follow these steps:
- Change the mixed fraction into the improper fraction.
- Simplify the fraction if it is possible.
- Multiply the numerator and denominator to get the new numerator and denominator.
- Put the answer in the lowest term of the fraction.
Solution: Now, we convert the above problem of mixed fraction into the improper fraction, as shown below:
We can write the fraction in lowest terms, by dividing the denominator to the numerator.
