<img src="https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=iA1Pi1a8Dy00ym" style="display:none" height="1" width="1" alt="" />

# Products of Mixed Numbers

## Multiply fractions > 1.

Estimated20 minsto complete
%
Progress
Practice Products of Mixed Numbers
Progress
Estimated20 minsto complete
%
Products of Mixed Numbers

### Let’s Think About It

Credit: Rebecca Siegel
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/grongar/3908423290/
License: CC BY-NC 3.0

Cynthia just got the recipe for her grandmother’s famous Italian bread. The recipe makes 3 loaves of bread, which is more than Cynthia wants right now. Cynthia only wants to make 2 loaves of bread so she is going to need 23\begin{align*}\frac{2}{3} \end{align*} of all of the ingredients listed in the recipe. The recipe calls for 412\begin{align*}4 \frac{1}{2}\end{align*} tablespoons of olive oil along with 7 other ingredients. How can Cynthia figure out how much olive oil she should use to make only 2 loaves of bread?

In this concept, you will learn how to multiply fractions and mixed numbers.

### Guidance

Recall that in a fraction, the number written above the bar is the numerator and the number written below the bar is the denominator. When multiplying fractions, you will multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.

To multiply fractions:

1. Multiply the numerators to find the numerator of your answer. Multiply the denominators to find the denominator of your answer.
2. Simplify your answer. Rewrite as a mixed number if necessary.

Here is an example.

Find the product of 1245\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{4}{5}\end{align*}.

First, multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators. Note that you do not need to find a common denominator first!

1245=1425=410

Next, simplify your answer. The greatest common factor of 4 and 10 is 2, so divide by 4 and 10 by 2 to simplify the fraction.

410=4÷210÷2=25

The answer is 1245=25\begin{align*}\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{4}{5}=\frac{2}{5}\end{align*}.

You can also multiply fractions and whole numbers. You will first need to turn the whole number into a fraction by writing it over 1.

Here is an example.

Find the product of 512\begin{align*}5 \cdot \frac{1}{2}\end{align*}.

First, rewrite 5 as 51\begin{align*}\frac{5}{1}\end{align*}.

5112

Next, multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.

5112=5112=52

Now, simplify your answer. You can rewrite 52\begin{align*}\frac{5}{2}\end{align*} as a mixed number.

52=212

The answer is 512=212\begin{align*}5 \cdot \frac{1}{2}=2 \frac{1}{2}\end{align*}.

You can also multiply mixed numbers. Because mixed numbers involve both wholes and parts, multiplying mixed numbers requires an extra step. Before multiplying mixed numbers, you will convert them to improper fractions.

To multiply mixed numbers:

1. Convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions.
2. Multiply the numerators to find the numerator of your answer. Multiply the denominators to find the denominator of your answer.
3. Simplify your answer. Rewrite as a mixed number if necessary.

Here is an example.

Find the product of 312213\begin{align*}3 \frac{1}{2} \cdot 2 \frac{1}{3}\end{align*}.

First, rewrite both mixed numbers as improper fractions.

312=(23)+12=72213=(32)+13=73

Next, multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.

7273=496

Now, simplify your answer. You can rewrite 496\begin{align*}\frac{49}{6}\end{align*} as a mixed number.

496=816

The answer is 312213=816\begin{align*}3 \frac{1}{2} \cdot 2 \frac{1}{3}=8 \frac {1}{6}\end{align*}.

Sometimes when you multiply fractions or mixed numbers you will end up with very large numbers. To avoid having to deal with such big numbers, you can simplify before multiplying. To do this, look for common factors and divide them out.

Here is an example.

Find the product of 291830\begin{align*}\frac{2}{9} \cdot \frac{18}{30}\end{align*}.

First, write the numerator and the denominator as a product.

291830=218930

Next, look for common factors along the diagonals in the numerator and the denominator. First look at 2 and 30. Both 2 and 30 have a factor of 2. Divide both 2 and 30 by 2.

218930=118915

Now, look at 9 and 18. Both 9 and 18 have a factor of 9. Divide both 9 and 18 by 9.

Now, multiply the numbers in the numerator and the numbers in the denominator.

The answer is \begin{align*}\frac{2}{9} \cdot \frac{18}{30}=\frac{2}{15}\end{align*}.

### Guided Practice

Deirdre claims that it takes her \begin{align*}6 \frac{3}{4}\end{align*} hours to complete her homework every night. Carlos thinks he can finish his homework in \begin{align*}\frac{2}{3}\end{align*} that time. How long does Carlos think it will take him to complete his homework?

To figure out how long Carlos thinks it will take him to complete his homework, you need to find \begin{align*}\frac{2}{3}\end{align*} of \begin{align*}6 \frac{3}{4}\end{align*}. The word “of” indicates multiplication, so you will need to multiply.

First, rewrite the mixed number as an improper fraction.

Next, multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.

The answer is Carlos thinks he can complete his homework in \begin{align*}4 \frac{1}{2}\end{align*} hours.

### Examples

#### Example 1

Find the product of \begin{align*}\frac{1}{3} \cdot \frac{5}{6}\end{align*}.

First, multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.

Next, check to see if you need to simplify your answer. In this case, \begin{align*}\frac{5}{18}\end{align*} is in simplest form.

The answer is \begin{align*}\frac{1}{3} \cdot \frac{5}{6}=\frac{5}{18}\end{align*}.

#### Example 2

Find the product of \begin{align*}\frac{18}{20} \cdot \frac{4}{9}\end{align*}.

First, write the numerator and the denominator as a product.

Next, look for common factors along the diagonals in the numerator and the denominator. First look at 18 and 9. Both 18 and 9 have a factor of 9. Divide both 18 and 9 by 9.

Now, look at 4 and 20. Both 4 and 20 have a factor of 4. Divide both 4 and 20 by 4.

Now, multiply the numbers in the numerator and the numbers in the denominator.

The answer is \begin{align*}\frac{18}{20} \cdot \frac{4}{9}= \frac{2}{5}\end{align*}.

#### Example 3

Find the product of \begin{align*}2 \frac{1}{5} \cdot 3 \frac{1}{2}\end{align*}.

First, rewrite both mixed numbers as improper fractions.

Next, multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.

Now, simplify your answer. You can rewrite \begin{align*}\frac{77}{10}\end{align*} as a mixed number.

The answer is \begin{align*}2 \frac{1}{5} \cdot 3 \frac{1}{2}=7 \frac{7}{10}\end{align*}.

Credit: Rebecca Siegel
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/grongar/3907647525/
License: CC BY-NC 3.0

Remember Cynthia and her Italian bread? Her recipe is for 3 loaves but she only wants to make 2 loaves. Her plan is to use \begin{align*}\frac{2}{3}\end{align*} of all the ingredients listed in the recipe. The recipe calls for \begin{align*}4 \frac{1}{2}\end{align*} tablespoons of olive oil. Cynthia wants to figure out how much olive oil she should use to make only 2 loaves of bread.

Cynthia needs to find \begin{align*}\frac{2}{3}\end{align*} of \begin{align*}4 \frac{1}{2}\end{align*}. She will need to multiply.

First, Cynthia should rewrite the mixed number as an improper fraction.

Next, she should multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.

Now, she should simplify her answer.

The answer is Cynthia should use 3 tablespoons of olive oil to make 2 loaves of bread.

### Explore More

Multiply.

1. \begin{align*}\frac{1}{4} \cdot \frac{3}{7}\end{align*}

2. \begin{align*}\frac{5}{6} \cdot \frac{2}{3}\end{align*}

3. \begin{align*}\frac{3}{10} \cdot \frac{10}{12}\end{align*}

4. \begin{align*}\frac{4}{7} \cdot \frac{2}{3}\end{align*}

5. \begin{align*}\frac{1}{3} \cdot 2 \frac{2}{3}\end{align*}

6. \begin{align*}2 \frac{5}{7} \cdot 1 \frac{1}{5}\end{align*}

7. \begin{align*}2 \frac{3}{10} \cdot 2 \frac{1}{4}\end{align*}

8. \begin{align*}7 \frac{1}{5} \cdot \frac{1}{11}\end{align*}

9. \begin{align*}4 \frac{5}{8} \cdot 2\end{align*}

10. \begin{align*}\frac{1}{7} \cdot \frac{1}{6}\end{align*}

11. \begin{align*}3 \frac{5}{6} \cdot 1 \frac{2}{3}\end{align*}

12. \begin{align*}\frac{1}{5} \cdot \frac{7}{12}\end{align*}

13. \begin{align*}\frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{9}{12} \cdot \frac{6}{7}\end{align*}

14. \begin{align*}\frac{1}{3} \cdot 1 \frac{4}{5} \cdot \frac{3}{4}\end{align*}

15. \begin{align*}\frac{4}{9} \cdot \frac{5}{8} \cdot \frac{3}{7}\end{align*}

16. \begin{align*}\frac{10}{12} \cdot \left ( 3 \frac{1}{5} \cdot \frac{7}{10} \right)\end{align*}

### Vocabulary Language: English

fraction

fraction

A fraction is a part of a whole. A fraction is written mathematically as one value on top of another, separated by a fraction bar. It is also called a rational number.
Greatest Common Factor

Greatest Common Factor

The greatest common factor of two numbers is the greatest number that both of the original numbers can be divided by evenly.
improper fraction

improper fraction

An improper fraction is a fraction in which the absolute value of the numerator is greater than the absolute value of the denominator.
Mixed Number

Mixed Number

A mixed number is a number made up of a whole number and a fraction, such as $4\frac{3}{5}$.

1. [1]^ Credit: Rebecca Siegel; Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/grongar/3908423290/; License: CC BY-NC 3.0
2. [2]^ Credit: Rebecca Siegel; Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/grongar/3907647525/; License: CC BY-NC 3.0

### Explore More

Sign in to explore more, including practice questions and solutions for Products of Mixed Numbers.