To Multiply Fractions:
- Multiply the numerators of the fractions
- Multiply the denominators of the fractions
- Place the product of the numerators over the product of the denominators
- Simplify the Fraction
Example: Multiply 2/9 and 3/12
- Multiply the numerators (2*3=6)
- Multiply the denominators (9*12=108)
- Place the product of the numerators over the product of the denominators (6/108)
- Simplify the Fraction (6/108 = 1/18)
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- The Easy Way. It is often simplest to "cancel"
before doing the multiplication. Canceling is dividing one factor of the numerator
and one factor of the denominator by the same number.
- For example: 2/9 * 3/12 = (2*3)/(9*12) = (1*3)/(9*6) = (1*1)/(3*6) = 1/18