## multiplying and dividing fractions

Simple patterns, variables, the order of operations, simplification, evaluation, linear equations and graphs, etc.

### multiplying and dividing fractions

can someone please explain how to do fractions with the same denominator
supermomof727

Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:08 pm

supermomof727 wrote:can someone please explain how to do fractions with the same denominator

What do you mean by "doing" fractions? Are you converting to the common denominator? Adding (and subtracting) with the common denominator? Or something else?

Thank you!

stapel_eliz

Posts: 1803
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:22 pm

### Re: multiplying and dividing fractions

I am going to assume you want multiplying and dividing fractions.

When multiplying or dividing fractions there is no need to have the denominators the same, they can be the same or not, it doesn't matter.

When you multiply two fractions the answer is the numerator times the numerator over the denominator times the denominator.

Like this: $\frac 3 8 \mbox{ x } \frac 5 {11} \mbox{ = } \frac {15} {88}$

When you divide fractions you must invert the divisor and the multiply:

Like this: $\frac 3 8 \mbox{ } \div \mbox{ } \frac 5 {11} \mbox{ = } \frac 3 8 \mbox{ x } \frac {11} {5} \mbox{ = }\frac {33} {40}$