Any multiplication of fractions can also be interpreted as multiplication and division of whole numbers.

For example, consider

\dfrac{14}{\color{blue}3} \times \dfrac{6}{\color{red}7}.

Writing the fractions as division, our expression becomes (14\,{\color{blue}{\div\, 3}})\times (6\,{\color{red}{\div\, 7}}) . We use parentheses to make it easier to read.

Since our expression contains multiplication and division only, we can write an equivalent expression by swapping the two divisions. Swapping the {\color{red}{\div\, 3}} and the {\color{blue}{\div\, 7}} , we get the following equivalent expression: (14\, {\color{red}{\div\, 7}}) \times (6\, {\color{blue}{\div\, 3}})

If we interpret the divisions as fractions again, then we have another equivalent expression: \dfrac{14}{\color{red}7} \times \dfrac{6}{\color{blue}3}

Notice that this amounts to swapping the denominators in the original expression.

FLAG

What fraction is missing from the statement below?

(15\div 13) \times (4\div 5) = \dfrac{\fbox{[math]\,\phantom{0}\,[/math]}}{\fbox{[math]\,\phantom{0}\,[/math]}} \times \dfrac{4}{13}

EXPLANATION

The given expression is (15\,{\color{blue}{\div\, 13}}) \times (4\,{\color{red}{\div\, 5}}).

Since our expression contains multiplication and division only, we can write an equivalent expression by swapping the {\color{red}{\div\, 5}} and the {\color{blue}{\div\, 13}} : (15\, {\color{red}{\div\, 5}}) \times (4\, {\color{blue}{\div\, 13}})

We can now interpret the divisions as fractions: \dfrac{15} 5 \times \dfrac 4 {13}

So the missing fraction is \dfrac{15} 5.

FLAG

What fraction is missing from the statement below?

\[ (8\div 7)\times (3\div 4) = \dfrac{\fbox{$\,\phantom{0}\,$}}{\fbox{$\,\phantom{0}\,$}} \times \dfrac{3}{7} \]

a
$ \dfrac{3} 8$
b
$ \dfrac{8} 3$
c
$ \dfrac{4} 8$
d
$ \dfrac{4} 7$
e
$ \dfrac{8} 4$

What fraction is missing from the statement below?

\[ (3\div 2)\times (4\div 5) = \dfrac{3}{5}\times \dfrac{\fbox{$\,\phantom{0}\,$}}{\fbox{$\,\phantom{0}\,$}} \]

a
$\dfrac 1 8$
b
$\dfrac 2 4$
c
$\dfrac 1 2$
d
$\dfrac 8 1$
e
$\dfrac 4 2$

Find an expression of the form \dfrac{\fbox{[math]\,\phantom{0}\,[/math]}}{\fbox{[math]\,\phantom{0}\,[/math]}} \times \dfrac{\fbox{[math]\,\phantom{0}\,[/math]}}{\fbox{[math]\,\phantom{0}\,[/math]}} equivalent to \dfrac{4}{3}\times\dfrac{9}{2}.

EXPLANATION

Interpreting the fraction as division, we can write our expression as (4\,{\color{red}{\div\, 3}}) \times (9\,{\color{blue}{\div\, 2}}).

We use parentheses to make it easier to read.

Since our expression contains multiplication and division only, we can write an equivalent expression by swapping the {\color{red}{\div\, 3}} and the {\color{blue}{\div\,2}} : (4\,{\color{blue}{\div\,2}}) \times (9\,{\color{red}{\div\, 3}})

Finally, we can write the 4\div 2 and 9\div 3 as fractions: \dfrac{4}{2} \times \dfrac{9}{3}.

FLAG

$\dfrac{5}{6}\times\dfrac{12}{5}=$

a
$ \dfrac{5}{6} \times \dfrac{6}{12}$
b
$ \dfrac{5}{5} \times \dfrac{6}{12}$
c
$ \dfrac{6}{5} \times \dfrac{5}{12}$
d
$ \dfrac{5}{1} \times \dfrac{12}{6}$
e
$ \dfrac{5}{5} \times \dfrac{12}{6}$

$\dfrac{6}{5}\times\dfrac{10}{3}=$

a
$\dfrac{3}{6} \times \dfrac{5}{10}$
b
$\dfrac{6}{10} \times \dfrac{5}{3}$
c
$\dfrac{3}{6} \times \dfrac{10}{5}$
d
$\dfrac{6}{3} \times \dfrac{5}{10}$
e
$\dfrac{6}{3} \times \dfrac{10}{5}$

Evaluate \dfrac{12}{7}\times \dfrac{21}{4}.

EXPLANATION

Interpreting the fractions as division, we get (12\,{\color{red}{\div\, 7}})\times(21\,{\color{blue}{\div\, 4}}).

Since our expression contains multiplication and division only, we can create an equivalent expression by swapping the {\color{red}{\div\, 7}} and {\color{blue}{\div\, 4}} : (12\,{\color{blue}{\div\, 4}})\times(21\,{\color{red}{\div\, 7}})

Interpreting the divisions as fractions, we get \dfrac{12}{4}\times\dfrac{21}{7}.

Carrying out the divisions, we arrive at \begin{align*} \underbrace{\dfrac{12}{4}}_{3}\times\underbrace{\dfrac{21}{7}}_{3} = 3\times 3 = 9. \end{align*}

FLAG

$\dfrac{27}{4}\times \dfrac{8}{9} = $

a
$6$
b
$8$
c
$16$
d
$18$
e
$7$

$\dfrac{12}{7}\times\dfrac{35}{6}=$

a
$15$
b
$10$
c
$8$
d
$20$
e
$12$

When solving a fraction multiplication problem, it's often convenient to simplify the problem before carrying out the multiplication.

For example, let's consider the following multiplication problem:

\dfrac{\color{red}3}{8} \times \dfrac{1}{\color{blue}12}

Notice that the first fraction's numerator ( \color{red}3 ) and the second fraction's denominator ( \color{blue}12 ) have a common factor of 3.

Therefore, we can simplify our problem by first swapping the denominators:

\dfrac{\color{red}3}{\color{blue}12} \times \dfrac{1}{8}

Next, we reduce the first fraction to its lowest terms by dividing the numerator and denominator by 3.

\begin{align*} \dfrac{{\color{red}{3}}\div 3}{{\color{blue}{12}}\div 3} \times \dfrac{1}{8} &=\dfrac14\times \dfrac18 \end{align*}

To multiply two fractions, we multiply the numerators and we multiply the denominators:

\dfrac{1}{4} \times \dfrac{1}{8} = \dfrac{1 \times 1}{4 \times 8} = \dfrac{1}{32}

Therefore, we conclude that

\dfrac{3}{8} \times \dfrac{1}{12} = \dfrac{1}{32}.

FLAG

What is \dfrac{11}{30}\times \dfrac{12}{7}, expressed as a fraction in lowest terms?

EXPLANATION

We need to solve the following multiplication problem:

\dfrac{11}{\color{red}30}\times \dfrac{\color{blue}12}{7}

Notice that the first fraction's denominator ( \color{red}30 ) and the second fraction's numerator ( \color{blue}12 ) have a common factor of 6.

Therefore, we can simplify our problem by first swapping the denominators:

\dfrac{11}{7} \times \dfrac{\color{red}12}{\color{blue}30}

Next, we reduce the second fraction to its lowest terms by dividing the numerator and denominator by 6.

\begin{align*} \dfrac{11}{7} \times \dfrac{{\color{red}{12}}\div 6}{{\color{blue}{30}}\div 6} &=\dfrac{11}{7} \times \dfrac 25 \end{align*}

To multiply two fractions, we multiply the numerators and we multiply the denominators: \dfrac{11}{7}\times \dfrac{2}{5} = \dfrac{11 \times 2}{7 \times 5} = \dfrac{22}{35}

FLAG

Expressed as a fraction in its lowest terms, $\dfrac{1}{10} \times \dfrac{4}{5} = $

a
b
c
d
e

Expressed as a fraction in lowest terms, $\dfrac{5}{9} \times \dfrac{6}{7} =$

a
b
c
d
e

Expressed as a fraction in lowest terms, $\dfrac{4}{81} \times \dfrac{36}{7} =$

a
b
c
d
e
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