Lesson 3: Multiply Fractions

Property

To multiply two unit fractions, multiply their denominators. The numerator of the product is always 1.

Examples

• $\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{1}{3} = \frac{1}{2 \times 3} = \frac{1}{6}$
• $\frac{1}{4} \times \frac{1}{5} = \frac{1}{4 \times 5} = \frac{1}{20}$

Explanation

A unit fraction is a fraction with a numerator of 1. When you multiply two unit fractions, you are finding a part of a part. The product is found by multiplying the numerators (which is always $1 \times 1 = 1$) and multiplying the denominators. This is a special case of the general rule for multiplying any two fractions.

Property

To multiply two fractions, multiply the numerators to get the new numerator, and multiply the denominators to get the new denominator.

Examples

Property

To multiply mixed numbers, first convert them into improper fractions. Then, multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.

Examples