Joel Said:

What is the difference between adding and multiplying fractions?

We Answered:

When you add the fractions you have a common denominator (or work toward it) and add the numerators.

For example, 1/2 + 3/5 = 5/10 + 6/10 or 11/10

When you multiply you multiply the numerators across, and then multiply the denominators across

1/2 * 3/5 = 3/10

Carole Said:

Help with multiplying fractions with different signs (positive and negative)?

We Answered:

Just mutiply the numerator and denominator respectively no matter the number is negative or positive.

-a / b x c / d = (-a x c) / (b x d)

Randy Said:

when multiplying fractions, can you make the denominator the same number first?

We Answered:

nope! you first cross divide then multiply numerator by numorator and denominator by denominator

Henry Said:

Can someone explain multiplying fractions to me in the simplist way?

We Answered:

like every math problem you have to know the rules...

first rule is when you add or subtract fractions you have to find the lowest common denominator...that is the number on the bottom

so if we add 1/4 + 1/8, we look for the common denominator....in this case it is 8

4 goes into 8 twice, and 8 goes into 8 once

once you know this, you make them all the same....

multiply 2 times 1/4 both top an bottom numbers...you get 2/8

multiply 1 times 1/8, both top an bottom...you get 1/8...so theres no need to multiply one times something

so then you have 2/8 + 1/8 = 3/8

if we want to subtract we convert to similar terms like above but then subtract...the answer would then be 2/8 - 1/8 = 1/8

Now lets try multiply...

1/3 X 3/7

multiply the top numbers and then the bottom numbers...you get 3/21..which can be reduced to 1/7 by dividing top and bottom by 3

try another 1/6 X 1/6 = 1/36

try another 2 X 4/5 = 8/5...since 2 is really 2/1

5/8 x 2 4/5...now we have to convert the whole number on the second one so we can multiply

so with 2 4/5...u multiply 5 X 2 then add 4...it would be 14/5.. thats how you convert whole numbers and fractions

then back to the question

5/8 X 14/5...multiply top times top and bottom times bottom

60/40...then reduce by dividing both sides by 20...you get 3/2...

so your answer is 3/2

Agnes Said:

What are two careers that use multiplying fractions in the work place?

We Answered:

Accountant, Architect, Engineer (Any type), video game designer, biologist, and many other scientific jobs.