Hello young mathematicians!
Today, we’re going to explore the exciting world of multiplication, but with a twist – we’ll be multiplying fractions by whole numbers. Don’t worry, it might sound a bit tricky at first, but with some fun examples and easy explanations, you’ll become a fraction multiplication pro in no time!
Understanding Multiplication: Multiplication is like combining groups of things to find the total amount. When we multiply fractions by whole numbers, it’s like repeating or extending the fraction to get a bigger amount.
Let’s start with a simple example:
Example 1: Imagine you have 2/3 of a delicious pizza, and you want to know how much pizza you would have if you had 4 times that amount.
To solve this, you simply multiply the fraction (2/3) by the whole number (4):
2/3×4
To find the answer, you can think of it as taking 2/3 of the pizza, and then doing that 4 times:
2/3+2/3+2/3+2/3
Now, add them up:
8/3
So, 2/3 of a pizza, multiplied by 4, gives you 8/3 of the pizza!
Illustrative Example: Let’s take a visual approach to understand this better. Picture a pizza divided into 3 equal slices. If you have 2 slices (2/3), and you want 4 times that amount, you’d end up with 8 slices, which is 8/3 of the pizza.
Practical Scenario: Imagine you have 2/5 of your favorite candy bars, and you want to know how much you would have if you had 3 times that amount.
Give it a try! Can you find the answer?
(Answer: 2/5×3=6/5)
Do you know the difference between proper and improper fractions?
If not, read here
