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✖️ Multiplying Fractions by Whole Numbers

Gather copies of a fraction, multiply the top number, and rename answers bigger than one whole.

3
lessons
~15 min
to learn
🔢 Math
subject
Ages 6–12
level
Start the course →

What you’ll learn

  1. Copies of a FractionUnderstand multiplying a fraction by a whole number as gathering repeated copies.Multiplying a fraction by a whole number means adding that many copies of the fraction. Three copies of 1/4 is 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/4 = 3/4. The whole number simply tells you how many equal pieces to collect.
  2. Multiply the Top NumberMultiply a fraction by a whole number by multiplying the numerator and keeping the denominator.To multiply a whole number by a fraction, multiply the whole number by the top number and keep the bottom the same. For 4 x 2/3, do 4 x 2 = 8 over 3, giving 8/3. The denominator stays put because the piece size never changes.
  3. More Than One WholeRename an improper fraction as a mixed number.An answer like 8/3 is more than one whole. Because three thirds make a whole, 8/3 holds 2 wholes (6/3) plus 2/3, so it equals 2 2/3. Every improper fraction can be rewritten as a whole number and a fraction.

Questions this course answers

What does 3 x 1/4 mean?

Multiplying a fraction by a whole number means gathering that many copies of the fraction.

4 x 2/3 = ?

Multiply the whole number by the top number and keep the bottom: 4 x 2 = 8 over 3.

2 x 3/5 = ?

Two copies of 3/5: multiply 2 x 3 = 6 and keep fifths, giving 6/5.

5 x 1/2 = ?

Five halves: 5 x 1 = 5 over the same bottom 2, so 5/2.

Write 8/3 as a mixed number.

Three thirds make a whole; 8/3 is two wholes (6/3) with 2/3 left, so 2 and 2/3.

Which is the same as 6/5?

Five fifths make one whole, leaving 1/5 over, so 6/5 = 1 and 1/5.

Grounded in trusted sources

  • Khan Academy
  • PBS Kids - early math
  • Britannica Kids
  • Math is Fun (mathsisfun.com)

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