What are the three steps to multiplying fractions?

The three steps used to multiply fractions are to multiply the numerators, multiply the denominators and simplify the resulting answer. Students can use these basic steps when multiplying two or more fractions together.

A simple example of how to multiply fractions is the multiplication of 1/2 x 4/5. In these fractions, the top numbers are the numerators and the bottom numbers are the denominators.

1. Multiple the numerators

Write down the fractions as 1/2 x 4/5. Multiply the top numbers, 1 x 4, which equals 4.

2. Multiply the denominators

Look at the denominator of each fraction and multiply them together. In this example, the denominators are 2 x 5, which equals 10.

3. Write down the resulting answer in fraction form and simplify it

Express the answer as the fraction 4/10, which simplifies to 2/5 when the numerator and denominator are divided by the common factor of 2. Sometimes the resulting answer is in simplest term; for example, 9/40 cannot be reduced further.

To multiple three fractions together, such as 1/3 x 2/5 x 4/5, students can use the same technique to get the answer of 8/75.