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Math · Fractions & Decimals

Multiplying Fractions

Multiply straight across — no common denominator needed! You're just finding a part of a part.
✖️The Rule: Go Straight Across
1 2 × 3 4 = 1 × 3 2 × 4 = 3 8 tops × bottoms ×
Numerator × numerator on top, denominator × denominator on the bottom. No common denominator needed!
🔲Why It Works: Part of a Part
▦Area Model · ½ × ¾
¾ across → ½ down 3/8
Split the whole into 8 equal pieces (2 rows × 4 columns). The double-shaded overlap is 3 of those 8.
🟪 ½ × ¾ = 3/8
📊Half of a Half · ½ × ½
½ one whole take ½ of it ¼ 4 equal parts
“Of” means multiply! Half of a half leaves just 1 of 4 equal parts.
🍫 ½ × ½ = 1/4
🪜3 Easy Steps (Recipe Example)
1 Multiply the tops 1 × 3 = 3 2 Multiply the bottoms 2 × 4 = 8 3 Simplify if you can 3/8 is already lowest terms Answer: 3 8 cup 🥄
🔑Key Terms
⬆️Numerator Top number — multiply numerators across.
⬇️Denominator Bottom number — multiply denominators across.
✖️Factor A number being multiplied.
🟰Product The answer to a multiplication problem.
🧩Part of a Part What you find when you multiply a fraction by a fraction.
👉“Of” In fraction problems, the word “of” means multiply.
⭐ Remember: multiply straight across — tops × tops, bottoms × bottoms. No common denominator! And multiplying by a fraction less than one makes your answer SMALLER.
✏️ Math Anchor Chart · Multiplying Fractions
From ClickClass — hundreds of free printables at clickclassedu.com/printables