How to Multiply and Divide Fractions

by Reza about 2 years ago in Articles

Multiplying fractions is easier than adding and subtracting them. it only has two simple steps and that’s it! In fact, multiplying fractions may be easier for you than multiplying integers, because the numbers you work with in fractions are usually smaller. The other good news is that dividing fractions is as simple as multiplying them. Use the following easy steps to multiply or divide fractions.

Step by step guide to multiply and divide fractions

Multiplying fractions:

Step 1: Multiply the numerators of the fractions by each other to get the numerator of the new fraction.
Step 2: Multiply the denominators of the fractions by each other to get the denominator of the new fraction.
Tip: Sometimes when multiplying fractions, you have the opportunity to simplify fractions. For example, when the numerator and denominator of a fraction are both even numbers, this fraction can be simplified.When multiplying fractions, you can usually simplify the fraction by removing equal factors in the numerator and denominator of the fraction. Crossing out equal factors will make the numbers smaller for you, making it easier to work with those numbers. You also get rid of simplifying the fraction at the end of the multiplication.

How to simplify fractions during multiplication operations:

Step 1: If the numerator of one fraction and the denominator of another fraction are the same number, change both of these numbers to \(1\) and crossing out the corresponding numbers.
Step 2: When the numerator of one fraction and the denominator of another fraction are both divisible by the same number, factor that number from both (both the numerator and the denominator). In other words, divide the numerator and the denominator by that common factor.

Dividing fractions:

You know that inverse division is multiplication. So to divide fractions:

Step 1: Write the first fraction in the same way as the original
Step 2: The division sign is converted to multiplication sign
Step 3: The second fraction is reversed and fliped the numerator and denominator
Step 4: Now you can slove like multiplication of fractions

Multiplying and Dividing Fractions – Example 1:

Multiply fractions. \(\frac{2}{5} \times \frac{3}{4}=\)

Solution:

Multiply the top numbers and multiply the bottom numbers.
\(\frac{2}{5} \times \frac{3}{4}= \frac{2 \ \times \ 3}{5 \ \times \ 4}=\frac{6}{20}\) , simplify: \(\frac{6}{20} = \frac{6 \ \div \ 2}{20 \ \div \ 2}=\frac{3}{10}\)

Multiplying and Dividing Fractions – Example 2:

Divide fractions. \(\frac{1}{2} \div \frac{3}{5}=\)

Solution:

Keep first fraction, change division sign to multiplication, and flip the numerator and denominator of the second fraction. Then: \(\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{5}{3} = \frac{1 \ \times \ 5}{2 \ \times \ 3}=\frac{5}{6}\)

Multiplying and Dividing Fractions – Example 3:

Multiply fractions. \(\frac{5}{6} \times \frac{3}{4}=\)

Solution:

Multiply the top numbers and multiply the bottom numbers.
\( \frac{5}{6}×\frac{3}{4}=\frac{5×3}{6×4}=\frac{15}{24}\), simplify: \(\frac{15}{24}=\frac{15÷3}{24÷3}=\frac{5}{8}\)

Multiplying and Dividing Fractions – Example 4:

Divide fractions. \(\frac{1}{4} \div \frac{2}{3}=\)

Solution:

Keep the first fraction, change the division sign to multiplication, and flip the numerator and denominator of the second fraction. Then: \(\frac{1}{4}×\frac{3}{2}=\frac{1×3}{4×2}=\frac{3}{8 }\)

Exercises for Multiplying and Dividing Fractions

Calculate. Simplify if necessary.

\(\color{blue}{\frac{1}{5} \times \frac{2}{3}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{3}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{2}{5} \times \frac{3}{7}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{2}{9} \div \frac{1}{4}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{1}{2} \div \frac{1}{3}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{6}{11} \div \frac{3}{4}}\)

Download Multiplying and Dividing Fractions Worksheet

\(\color{blue}{\frac{2}{15}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{1}{2}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{6}{35}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{8}{9}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{3}{2}}\)
\(\color{blue}{\frac{8}{11}}\)