Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
Aligned to 5.NF.B.4 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
What this lesson teaches
Multiplying a number by a fraction less than one makes it smaller, because you are taking only part of it. To multiply two fractions, multiply the tops together and the bottoms together. To divide a unit fraction by a whole number, you split it into that many equal pieces.
Worked example
Find 1/2 of 1/2: multiply 1/2 times 1/2 to get 1/4. Folding a half-sheet in half again shows you really do get one fourth.
Practice questions
- Multiply 2/3 times 3/4.
- Why is 1/2 times 1/2 smaller than 1/2?
- Divide 1/4 by 2.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Multiplicación y división de fracciones
Multiplicar un número por una fracción menor que uno lo hace más pequeño, porque solo estás tomando una parte de él. Para multiplicar dos fracciones, multiplica los numeradores entre sí y los denominadores entre sí. Para dividir una fracción unitaria entre un número entero, la divides en ese número de partes iguales.
Ejemplo: Encuentra 1/2 de 1/2: multiplica 1/2 por 1/2 para obtener 1/4. Doblar una hoja a la mitad y luego doblarla a la mitad otra vez muestra que realmente obtienes un cuarto.
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