While many people struggle with multiplying fractions and mixed numbers, the truth is that all you need to keep in mind is that you need to follow a set of rules.
Learn how to calculate fractions.
The truth is that, in most cases, people don’t like fractions. So, when they need to do simple operations with them or working with mixed fractions or mixed numbers, they immediately block. However, you don’t need to despair anymore. Today, you’ll finally understand how multiplying fractions and mixed numbers is actually pretty simple and you can start doing it on your own without any problems.
Multiplying Fractions And Mixed Numbers
As we already mentioned above, when you are looking to multiplying fractions and mixed numbers, you just need to follow a set of rules and steps.
#1: Multiplying Fractions:
When you are looking to multiplying fractions, you just need to follow the next steps:
Step 1: Multiply the numerators and the denominators.
Step 2: Reduce the fraction when possible.
Step 3: In the case your answer is an improper fraction, you need to convert it into a mixed fraction.
Check out our mixed fraction calculator.
Here’s an example. Let’s say that you want to multiply the following fractions: 8/3 X 16/5
Step 1: Multiply the numerators and the denominators.
8/3 X 16/5 = (8 X 16) / (3 X 5) = 128 /15
Step 2: Reduce the fraction when possible.
In this case, it’s not possible to reduce the fraction anymore.
Step 3: In the case your answer is an improper fraction, you need to convert it into a mixed fraction.
128 /15 = 8(8/15)
Discover if your result ir right with our multiplying fractions calculator.
#2: Multiplying Mixed Fractions Or Mixed Numbers:
When you are looking to multiplying mixed fractions or mixed numbers, you just need to follow the next steps:
Step 1: Convert each mixed number to an improper fraction.
Step 2: Multiply the numerators and the denominators.
Step 3: Reduce the fraction when possible.
Step 4: In the case your answer is an improper fraction, you need to convert it into a mixed fraction.
Check out our fraction to percentage calculator.
Here’s an example. Let’s say that you want to multiply the following fractions: 2(2/3) X 3(1/5)
Step 1: Convert each mixed number to an improper fraction.
2(2/3) = 8/3
3(1/5) = 16/5
Step 2: Multiply the numerators and the denominators.
8/3 X 16/5 = (8 X 16) / (3 X 5) = 128 /15
Step 3: Reduce the fraction when possible.
In this case, it’s not possible to reduce the fraction anymore.
Step 4: In the case your answer is an improper fraction, you need to convert it into a mixed fraction.
128 /15 = 8(8/15)
Bottom Line
As you can see, there’s no difficulty at all when you are looking to multiplying fractions and mixed numbers. After all, you just need to follow the steps we mentioned above and solve all your fractions problems.
Notice that in case you are looking to divide fractions, you will need to multiply the first fraction by the multiplicative inverse of the second fraction. But we will cover this in a later post.
