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How to Multiply Fraction Problems

Students should be exposed to basic concepts about fractions in elementary school, according to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. This includes learning that a fraction is a part of a whole. It is represented by a denominator (the bottom number), which indicates how many parts the whole is divided into, and a numerator (the top number), which indicates how many of those parts there are in the fraction. By sixth grade, students should be learning mathematical operations with fractions, including multiplication.

Instructions

- 1
  Write down the fractions you are going to multiply. For example, you might have to solve the problem 2/5 x 1/10.
- 2
  Multiply the numerators. In the example, 2 x 1 = 2. This is the numerator in your answer.
- 3
  Multiply the denominators. In the example, 5 x 10 = 50. This is the denominator in your answer.
- 4
  Simplify the fraction if possible by dividing the numerator and denominator by the largest number that will divide evenly into both. This is called the greatest common factor. In the example, your answer was 2/50. The greatest common factor of 2 and 50 is 2, so divide the numerator and denominator by 2. The simplified answer is 1/25.

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