Q&A for How to Multiply Mixed Numbers

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When simplifying, is it the same way as doing it with any other operation?

Community Answer

In terms of fractions, yes. You find the greatest common factor, then you factor the fraction/mixed number.

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How do I divide mixed numbers?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Turn each mixed number into an improper fraction, then divide as you would with any fractions.

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Question

What if after Imultiply the improper fraction, the numbers I get don't have any factors in common?

LyKaxandra Caimoy

Community Answer

If you are referring to reducing it to lowest term, then that is the simplest form or, otherwise, convert it to mixed numbers.

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What if I can't reduce the fraction?

Donagan

Top Answerer

That's the way you want the fraction to be: irreducible. That means the numerator and denominator cannot be evenly divided by the same number.

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Question

Is it true that when you're making an improper fraction, you multiply the denominator with the whole number, then add the numerator to get the numerator, and keep the same denominator?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes.

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Question

How do I multiply an improper fraction by a whole number?

Donagan

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Multiply the numerator by the whole number (leaving the denominator unchanged), then reduce the fraction if possible.

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Question

How can I check that my answer is correct?

LyKaxandra Caimoy

Community Answer

Divide the product by any of the given and so the quotient must be the other.

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Question

What do I do if the fraction that I just multiplied is simplified? Is that the answer?

Community Answer

Yes, if the number cannot be simplified further, that is your answer.

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Question

How do I multiply a one-digit number with mixed fractions?

Community Answer

You can multiply the integers and write the fraction as it is.This is more efficient than converting the mixed fraction into a improper fraction and finding the answer.

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Question

Can you multiply 2 improper numbers and get a proper number?

Community Answer

No. Each improper fraction has a numerator greater than (or equal to) its denominator. So when multiplying the numerators together you'll get a larger product than when you multiply the denominators together. Hence, the final fraction will always be improper.

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Question

Can I do it with an improper number?

Donagan

Top Answerer

You can multiply any fraction (proper or improper) by any other fraction or by a whole number. In the first case you multiply one numerator by the other, and multiply one denominator by the other; your answer will probably be a fraction. In the second case you multiply the numerator by the whole number and leave the denominator unchanged.

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Question

How do I reduce a fraction to its lowest form?

Community Answer

You divide the nominator and denominator by the highest number you can think of that goes into both nominator and denominator. When you can't reduce the fraction anymore, that is the lowest form.

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Question

How do I multiply 2/34 by 4/7?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Multiply the numerators to get a new numerator. Multiply the denominators to get a new denominator. Reduce the fraction if possible.

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Question

How do I get the GCF easily?

Donagan

Top Answerer

See Find the Greatest Common Factor .

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Question

How do we directly multiply to mixed fractions without converting them into improper fractions?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Converting to improper fractions first is really the easiest way to do this. Otherwise, you have to take five steps: (1) Multiply the two whole numbers together; (2) Multiply the two fractions together; (3) Multiply the first whole number by the second fraction; (4) Multiply the second whole number by the first fraction; and (5) Add the four products together.

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Question

How do I add mixed numbers?

Community Answer

First convert each mixed number to an improper fraction. Then convert them to fractions having the same denominator. Then add the new numerators together. The final fraction will have a numerator that is the sum of all the new numerators, and the denominator will be the same number as all the new denominators. Reduce if possible, and convert back to a mixed number if desired.

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Question

Why do I have to multiply?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Multiplying is just a fast way to do a lot of adding. For example, if you're asked to multiply 2½ by 4¾, you're really being asked to add together 2½ units of 4¾.

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Question

How can I multiply two mixed fractions and a proper fraction?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Convert each mixed number to an improper fraction, then multiply together the three fractions by multiplying the three numerators to get the final numerator and multiplying the three denominators to get the final denominator. Reduce the final fraction if possible, or (if it's an improper fraction), convert it to a mixed number.

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Question

How do I multiply whole numbers by mixed numbers?

Donagan

Top Answerer

The easiest way is usually to convert the mixed number to an improper fraction, multiply the numerator of the improper fraction by the whole number, leave the denominator unchanged, and then either reduce the final fraction or convert it to a mixed number.

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Question

What if the improper fraction can't be reduced?

Community Answer

If you can't reduce it, that's OK. Leave it unreduced. You can always convert an improper fraction into a mixed number if you want.

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Question

How do I multiply a mixed number with a whole number?

Community Answer

Turn the mixed number into a improper fraction. Then turn the whole number into an improper fraction. Multiply and simplify.

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Question

How do I multiply a whole number and a mixed number?

Community Answer

Put the whole number over 1 and treat it as a fraction. Convert the mixed number to an improper fraction, then multiply.

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Question

After I simplify my answer, do I turn it back into a mixed number?

Donagan

Top Answerer

It's a matter of preference. You can leave it as an improper fraction or convert it to a mixed number. Either way is appropriate.

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Question

What is 7 2/3 x 2 1/10?

Tina X

Community Answer

First, convert the numbers. 7 2/3 = 23/3, 2 1/10 = 21/10. The answer would be 483/30.

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What happens if the second factor is not a mixed number?

Tina X

Community Answer

If the second factor is not a mixed number, then you would only convert the first factor.

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Question

How to multiply this, 6/7 x 1/7 x 5?

Tina X

Community Answer

Start by multiplying the first two terms. You would get 6/49. Last, multiply 6/49 with 5. The answer should be 30/49.

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Question

How do you turn it into a whole number?

Donagan

Top Answerer

An improper fraction can be turned into a whole number ( as opposed to a mixed number) if the numerator can be exactly divided by the denominator. An example is 36/12. 36 is exactly divisible by 12. The quotient is 3, so that 36/12 is equal to 3.

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Question

Is there two mixed numbers when multiplied would equal a whole number.

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes. There are countless examples. One is 2 2/3 multiplied by 4½. That's 8/3 multiplied by 9/2, which is 72/6, which equals 12.

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Question

What if we are multiplying 3 improper fractions?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Multiply the three numerators together to get a new numerator. Multiply the three denominators together to get a new denominator. Reduce the fraction if possible. For example, (3/2)(7/4)(5/3) = 105 / 24 = 35 / 8. Expressed as a mixed number, it's 4 3/8.

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Question

Would the answer to 2 1/6 x 1 4/5 be 3 7/15? I've used your method but don't know if I've been using it correctly.

Donagan

Top Answerer

(2 1/6)(1 4/5) = (13/6)(9/5) = 117/30 = 3 27/30 = 3 9/10.

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