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How Do I Multiply an Improper Fraction to a Whole Number?

Fractional math follows rules that are different from math with other number types. A fraction is composed of two whole numbers or integers separated by a short line segment, called its solidus. A proper fraction has a numerator, or number above the solidus, less than its denominator, the number below, and has a value less than one. An improper fraction reverses those properties, with a numerator larger than the denominator and a value greater than one. Multiplying an improper fraction with a whole number requires operations with both of the fraction's numbers.

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain an improper fraction and a whole number for example purposes. In this example, let the fraction be 5/4 and the whole number be 6.
- 2
  Compare the whole number and the fraction's denominator to see if they share a greatest common factor and can be reduced. The greatest common factor is the largest integer or whole number that can be divided into both numbers without leaving a remainder. In this example, 4 has 1, 2 and 4 as factors and 6 has 1, 2, 3 and 6. For both numbers, 2 is a factor, and reducing each number by 2 results in 5/2 and 3.
- 3
  Multiply the numerator by the whole number and then place the product over the denominator from Step 2. Concluding this example, 5 multiplied by 3 equals 15, and 15 placed over 2 results in 15/2.

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