Examples on How to Multiply Fractions

Lesson Objective

In this lesson, we will see more examples on how to multiply fractions. Also, we will learn how to use common factor to make the multiplication easier.

About This Lesson

The basics on multiplying fractions have already been explained in the previous lesson.

This lesson will show more examples on multiplying two fractions that are:

2 proper fractions
1 proper and 1 improper fraction
2 mixed fractions.

Also, we will learn how to use common factor to simplify the multiplication when possible.

The study tips and math video below will explain more.

Study Tips

Tip #1 - The basics on how to multiply fractions

The lesson on multiplying fractions have already explained the basics needed. Please go through it if you are not sure.

Tip #2 - Simplify the multiplication using Common Factor

It is possible to simplify the multiplication if there is one or more common factor in the fractions. For example, let's multiply:

$Multiply the fractions, 3/5 with 7/9$

Multiplying the fraction gives:
Notice that 3 and 9 have the common factor, 3. Therefore we can divide these two numbers with 3.
This gives 1 and 3 respectively:
Since we unable to simplify it further, we can continue by doing the multiplication. This gives:
$The final fraction is 7/15$

Math Video

Lesson Video

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Math Video Transcript

00:00:03:01
In this lesson, we will see more examples on how to multiply fractions. 

00:00:08:17
Also, we will learn on how to make the multiplication easier, using common factor.

00:00:15:14
Let's multiply 3/7, with 5/10.

00:00:19:21
Note that, we can make the multiplication easier, by first simplifying 5/10.

00:00:26:22
To do so, we divide the numerator and denominator with the common factor, 5.

00:00:33:05
This gives the fraction, 1/2.

00:00:37:16
Now, we multiply these fractions. 

00:00:43:07
First, we multiply the numerators. 3 multiply by 1 gives 3.

00:00:50:24
Next, we multiply the denominators. 7 multiply by 2 gives 14.

00:00:59:02
So finally, we have the fraction, 3/14.

00:01:07:01
Next example, let's multiply 2/5, with 7/4. Let's see how to multiply fractions.

00:01:14:11
First, multiply the numerators. We get 2 multiply by 7.

00:01:23:02
Next, we multiply the denominators. We will get 5 x 4.

00:01:30:02
Before we multiply further , we can simplify this, by dividing 2 and 4 with the common factor, 2.

00:01:38:18
This gives 1, and 2 respectively.

00:01:43:03
Now, we have, 1 multiply 7/5 multiply 2.

00:01:49:11
Since there is no more common factor, let's continue to do the multiplication.

00:01:55:08
1 multiply 7, gives 7. 5 multiply 2, gives 10.

00:02:03:09
So finally, we have the fraction, 7/10.

00:02:11:08
Next example, let's multiply 1 3/5, with 2 1/2. Now, let's see how to multiply fractions.

00:02:19:12
Since these are mixed fractions, we have to convert them into improper fractions, before we can multiply.

00:02:27:06
Let's start with 1, 3/5. Multiplying 5 with 1. 

00:02:31:11
This gives 5.

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Now, adding 5 with 3 gives 8. This 8 becomes the improper fraction's numerator.

00:02:45:01
So now, we have the improper fraction, 8/5.

00:02:50:12
Next, let's convert 2, 1/2.  2 multiply 2, gives 4.

00:02:58:24
Add 4 with 1, gives 5. This 5 becomes the improper fraction's numerator.

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So now, we have the improper fraction, 5/2.

00:03:12:14
We can now multiply, 8/5, with 5/2.

00:03:18:15
First, we multiply the numerators. This gives, 8 multiply 5.

00:03:26:15
Next, we multiply the denominators. This gives, 5 multiply 2.

00:03:34:10
Notice that, we can make this multiplication easier by dividing 8 and 2 with the common factor 2.

00:03:43:11
This gives 4, and 1 respectively.

00:03:47:21
Again, we can make the multiplication easier, by dividing these two fives with the common factor, 5. This gives 1 for both.

00:03:59:17
Now, we can continue multiplying. 4 multiply with 1 gives 4.

00:04:06:20
Next, 1 multiply with 1, gives 1.

00:04:12:01
Divide 4 with 1. This gives the final answer as 4.

00:04:18:14
That is all for this lesson. Try out the practice question to further your understanding.

--End of 'How to Multiply Fractions' Transcript--

Practice Questions & More

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

Now, let's try some MCQ questions to understand this lesson better.

You can start by going through the series of questions on How to Multiply Fractions or pick your choice of question below.

Question 1 on simplify and multiply two fractions
Question 2 on simplify and multiply two fractions

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