Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

To multiply fractions, all you need to do is find the product of the numerators as well as denominators and reduce the results. If you want to divide the fraction, simply inverse the numerator and denominator of one of the two fractions, then multiply the fraction by the other fraction and reduce the result. The following article will guide you through the steps to perform multiplication and division of numbers quickly.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Fractional multiplication

1. 

   Multiply the numerical factors of the fractions together. The numerator is the number on the top of the fraction, while the denominator is the number below. The first step in multiplying fractions is to write them horizontally so that the numerators and denominators lie close together. For example, if you want to multiply 1/2 and 12/48, you first need to find the product of the numerators 1 and 12. 1 x 12 = 12. You have the numerator of your answer is 12.

2. 

   
   
   Continue to multiply the denominator. Do the same thing when you find the product of the numerators. Multiply by 2 by 48.2 x 48 = 96. This is the denominator of your answer. So, the new fraction would be 12/96.

3. 

   Reduce fractions. The final step is to reduce the result if the fraction is not yet minimal. To reduce a fraction, you need to find the greatest common divisor (OLN) of the numerator and the denominator in the fraction. UCLN is the largest number that both the numerator and the denominator are divisible by. In this example, 96 can be divisible by 12. We have: 12 divided 12 equals 1, 96 divided 12 gives 8. So, 12/96 ÷ 12/12 = 1/8.
   • If both are even numbers, you can start by dividing them by 2 and so on. 12/96 ÷ 2/2 = 6/48 ÷ 2/2 = 3/24. At this point, it is easy to realize that 24 is divisible by 3, so you can divide both the numerator and the denominator by 3 to get an answer of 1/8. 3/24 ÷ 3/3 = 1/8.
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Method 2 of 2: Fractional division

1. 

   
   
   Invert the numerator and denominator of the second fraction and change the divider to a multiplication sign. For example, we have the calculation 1/2 ÷ 18/20. First, inverse 18/20 to get the fraction 20/18, then change the divider to a multiplication sign. The calculation will be rewritten as follows: 1/2 ÷ 18/20 = 1/2 x 20/18.

2. 

   
   
   Go on, multiply the numerator together to find the numerator, multiply the denominator together to find the pattern, and then reduce the answer. Do the same as fraction multiplication. Multiply the two numerators together, 1 and 20, and we have the numerator of your answer 20. Multiply the two denominators together, 2 and 18, and we have the denominator of your answer of 36. The temporary result is 20/36 . Simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and the sample by the UCLN by 4. So, the final result is 20/36 ÷ 4/4 = 5/9. advertisement

Advice

• Check the post again.
• Don't forget to shorten your answer.
• Remember: all natural numbers can be converted to fractions: 2 and 2/1 are the same.
• The cross reduction method can be used at any time to omit the final reduction step. Cross reduction is to divide two numbers on the diagonal (numerator with denominator and vice versa) and divide by a common divisor. For example, the calculation of two fractions (8/20) * (6/12) after cross reduction becomes (2/10) * (3/3).
• Always check your work. If you have any questions, please ask the teacher immediately.

Warning

• Take one step at a time to minimize errors.
• In math, a problem can be solved in many ways. However, just because you find the correct answer when solving the problem in a different way doesn't mean that it always works. For example, another way to perform fraction division is to cross multiply (multiply one numerator by the other and vice versa).
• Don't forget to return your answers to the simplified fraction form. A result that is not fully reduced will not achieve a maximum score.