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How to Multiply Fractions With Popsicle Sticks

Fractions are parts of whole numbers, commonly expressed with a numerator and a denominator separated by a line. These fractions can be multiplied by one another to form new fractions. Demonstrate this multiplication for children using Popsicle sticks separated by lines draw on an outdoor surface such as an asphalt playground or a sidewalk outside your home.

Things You'll Need

  • 20 Popsicle sticks
  • Sidewalk chalk
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Instructions

    • 1

      Break the 20 Popsicle sticks in half to form 40 smaller Popsicle sticks.

    • 2

      Draw a line on the sidewalk with the sidewalk chalk, then an "x," then another line, followed by an equal sign and another line. The lines are where you will place the fractions you want to multiply.

    • 3

      Insert Popsicle sticks above and below the lines on the left side of the equal sign you drew in Step 2 to represent the fractions you will be multiplying. To form the fraction 2/3, place two of the Popsicle sticks above the first line and three below it. For this example, insert Popsicle sticks to form the equation 2/3 x 4/5.

    • 4

      Insert Popsicle sticks above the line to the right of the equal sign equal to the number you get when multiplying the numerators (the top numbers) of the fractions in the equation. When you multiply fractions, multiply the numerators in the equation by one another to form the numerator of the answer. In this example, the numerator of the solution is 6, because 2 x 3 = 6.

    • 5

      Insert Popsicle sticks below the line to the right of the equal sign equal to the number you get when multiplying the denominators (the bottom numbers) of the fractions in the equation. When you multiply fractions, multiply the denominators in the equation by one another to form the denominator of the answer. In this example, the denominator of the solution is 15, because 3 x 5 = 15. The solution to the equation should now read 6/15.

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