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Multiplying Fractions Problems Eliminated!

The Math that is assumed to be known to complete this section.

To successfully understand multiplying fractions, it is important that you don't start this section, unless your child is comfortable with the basic mathematics listed below.

Addition of whole numbers

An understanding of the number line

Single Digit multiplication of whole numbers

What are you doing when you Multiply Fractions?

As with multiplication of whole numbers, when you are multiplying fractions, you are simply doing 'speed addition'.

Let's take a specific example:

Here you are being asked, "What is 1/2 added to itself 5 times?" For a visual representation of this problem, look at the following image.

The answer is

Treating the fraction as a 'thing' will always make the question sound 'normal'.

What I mean by this statement is best explained by the different ways of verbalizing this question.

What is One divided by two multiplied by five?

What is one over two multiplied by 5?

What is one half multiplied by 5?

Going with version 3 it almost sounds like - "what is one multiplied by 5?"

This is the method I highly encourage you to use when teach your child. For this reason, it is really important that when you start to tutor your child, you encourage them to read their questions out loud, this way, you will hear how they are understanding the question!

Lets Establish the Facts and Rules of Multiplying Fractions.

Let's work with another example to establish our Facts

Saying this question as follows ....

Three quarters multiplied by 3 equalls what?

Sounds very much like ...

Three 'things' multiplied by three equalls what?

Well 3 x 3 = 9; so 3 quarters x 3 = 9 quarters.

Let's take this a little further!

Can we write 3 as a fraction? - YES - All Intigers can be written as a fraction of 1

So we can now rewrite the question as...

Multiply the numberators ...

3 x 3 = 9

Multiply the Denominators ...

4 x 1 = 4

Answer:

This is the ONLY Fraction Multiplication formula your student needs to know.

By using this method of treating the fraction as a 'thing' to teach your kids - you are actually giving them a huge head start toward the basics of elementary algebra.

3 things x 3 easily translates to

3X x 3 = ?

That's it. This is the only information you will ever need to teach the multiplication of fractions. If you liked my approach to this, you may be interested in other great mini tutorials, in all areas of elementary mathematics, starting from printable math worksheets Home Page

To offer your child the practice they need, get free printable multiplying fractions worksheets here.

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