You can save yourself the job of reducing your answer if you reduce the numerators and denominators before you multiply.
You can reduce any numerator and any denominator if there is a common factor. 5
– 8 × 3
__ 10
Look at the opposite numerators and denominators. Is there a common factor that will divide into both 3 and 8? Is there a common factor that will divide into both 5 and 10?
1 So now
– 8 × 3
1
– 2 = 3
__ 16
– 8 × 3
5
__ 10
2
3. Look for common factors of the numerators and denominators and then reduce before multiplying the fractions.
a) 4 f)
– 5 × 7
__ 10 × 2
9
– 8
– 3
b) 5 g) 4
– 6 × 3
– 7 × 7
– 8
__ 10
c) 8
– 9 × 3
h) 1 __
– 4
12 × 9 __
10
d) 3 i)
Dividing a Whole Number by a Fraction
Raymond decided to bring oranges for his rugby team to eat at half time. He had 5 oranges and divided them into quarters. How many quarters did he have altogether?
– 8 × 6
11
– 7
__ 12 × 8
__ 11
e) 5
– 9 × 6
__ 11
4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 20 or 5 × 4 quarters = 20 So there are 20 quarters in 5 oranges.
1. How many quarters are in the following? a) 7 oranges d) 9 oranges