Q&A for How to Multiply Fractions

Try to simplify the fractions as much as you can before multiplying them so you're working with smaller numbers. For example, 6/8 can be reduced down to 3/4.

Change the mixed number to an improper fraction, then multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator. Simplify if possible.

To multiply fractions by a whole number, you just multiply the numerator (top number) by the whole. Once you find that, divide the numerator by the denominator (bottom number), and you get a decimal version of the answer. If you don't know how to convert decimals to fractions, you can look it up on wikiHow.

It doesn't matter if the denominator is different. Just multiply numerator by numerator and denominator by denominator.

Unlike adding and subtracting fractions, it doesn't matter if the denominators are different. Just multiply numerators by numerators, denominators by denominators, then simplify.

Multiply the three numerators together to get the resulting numerator. Multiply the three denominators together to get the resulting denominator. Simplify by canceling any factors that appear in both the numerator and denominator.

Convert each mixed number to an improper fraction, then multiply as shown in the above article. Convert the resulting improper fraction back to a final mixed number.

Multiply as usual, and add a negative sign in front of the answer. For example, (½)(-¼) = -(1/8).

When dividing fractions, you get the second fraction, find the inverse (flip it) and multiply it by the first fraction. Example: 1/2 divided by 1/4 would become 1/2 * 4/1.

Just multiply the numerators to get the numerator and multiply the denominators to get the denominator. For multiplying and dividing, it makes no difference if the denominators are the same or not, nor does it matter how big or small they are. And you don't need to simplify anything before multiplying unless you can and want to. Just simplify the final answer if it can be simplified.

To divide fractions you multiply by the reciprocal. For example: (x/y) / (z/a) = (x/y) * (a/z). The numerator and denominator of the second fraction are switched and then you multiply.

First, multiply the whole numbers. Next, multiply the numerators. Lastly, multiply the denominators.

Anytime you multiply any number (including a fraction) by a proper fraction, you are multiplying by a number less than 1, which means the original number will become smaller. For instance, if you multiply by ½, that's the same as dividing by 2, so the original number will become half as large as it was.

For both scenarios: multiply the top numbers together to get the numerator, and then multiply the bottom numbers together to get the denominator. For example: 1/2 x 1/8 = 1x1 / 2x8 = 1/16

If the problem is (700.00)(8/12), first simplify the fraction to 2/3. Then multiply: (700.00)(2/3) = 1,400.00 / 3 = 466.67.

It doesn't matter weather the fractions are similar or not. Just multiply as shown.

If the problem is 2/7 - (5/3 x 27/35), solve it like this: what's inside the parentheses can be rewritten (5)(3)(9) / (3)(5)(7), which simplifies by cancellation to 9/7. So the problem becomes 2/7 - 9/7, which equals -7/7, or -1.

Do it the same as with proper fractions: invert the divisor and multiply.

Multiply as usual. You make the denominators equal only when you're adding and subtracting.

Change the mixed number to an improper fraction. Then multiply numerator by numerator and denominator by denominator. Simplify the product if possible.

You do the same thing. Multiply 6*4*3 and 8*9*5. Then put the numerator's answer on the top and the denominator at the bottom. 6*4*3/8*9*5 is the answer.

Keep, Change, Flip: Keep the first fraction the same. Change the division symbol to a multiplication symbol. Flip (invert) the second fraction. Then multiply the first fraction by the inverted second fraction. Reduce the answer if necessary, and convert to a mixed number if desired. For example, 4/5 divided by 2/3 is (4/5)(3/2) = 12/10 = 6/5 or 1 1/5.

First change the mixed number to an improper fraction as follows: multiply the denominator of the fraction by the whole number. Then add that result to the numerator of the fraction to get the numerator of the new, improper fraction. The denominator remains the same. Now you have an improper fraction. Multiply that by the whole number as follows: multiply the whole number by the numerator of the improper fraction. The denominator remains the same. Now you have a new improper fraction. Reduce it if appropriate and convert it to a mixed fraction (mixed number) if desired. That's your answer.

4½ days = 9/2 days. (9/2)(2/9) = 18/18 = 1 day.

See Multiply Fractions With Whole Numbers .

It's a quick method to add, subtract or compare fractions. For details, do a websearch for "butterfly method."

Change the mixed number to an improper fraction by multiplying the denominator by the whole number, then add that result to the numerator and put it over the denominator as it was in the mixed number. Then multiply the numerators and denominators (you don't need a common denominator when multiplying or dividing, you only need it when adding or subtracting), and simplify if necessary, and if your result is an improper fraction, change it to a mixed number if you want.

You will get a proper fraction for most fractions.