Solve Fraction Multiplication: 1/4 × 1/2 Step-by-Step

Q: Why is the answer smaller than both fractions I started with?

When you multiply fractions, you're finding part of a part! $ \frac{1}{4} \times \frac{1}{2} $ means "half of one-fourth," which is naturally smaller than either original piece.

Q: Do I need to simplify my answer?

Always check if you can simplify! In this case, $ \frac{1}{8} $ is already in lowest terms since 1 and 8 share no common factors other than 1.

Q: Can I use cross-multiplication here?

No! Cross-multiplication is for solving equations like $ \frac{a}{b} = \frac{c}{d} $. For multiplying fractions, always use the multiply-across method.

Fraction Multiplication with Unit Fractions

$\frac{1}{4}\times\frac{1}{2}=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:04 Let's solve this math problem together.

00:08 First, multiply the numerators. Then, the denominators.

00:13 Now, let's do those multiplications step by step.

00:16 Great job! This is how we find the solution.

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$\frac{1}{4}\times\frac{1}{2}=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we will multiply the two fractions given: $\frac{1}{4}$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ .

Step 1: Multiply the numerators: $1 \times 1 = 1$ .
Step 2: Multiply the denominators: $4 \times 2 = 8$ .
Step 3: Combine these results into a new fraction: $\frac{1}{8}$ .

Therefore, the product of the fractions $\frac{1}{4}$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ is $\frac{1}{8}$ . This matches choice 3 from the provided answer choices.

Final Answer

$\frac{1}{8}$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Multiply numerators together and denominators together separately
Technique: $1 \times 1 = 1$ and $4 \times 2 = 8$ gives $\frac{1}{8}$
Check: The result should be smaller than both original fractions ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding denominators instead of multiplying
Don't add denominators like 4 + 2 = 6 to get $\frac{1}{6}$ ! This confuses addition rules with multiplication. Always multiply numerators together AND multiply denominators together separately.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$\frac{2}{3}\times\frac{5}{7}=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is the answer smaller than both fractions I started with?

When you multiply fractions, you're finding part of a part! $\frac{1}{4} \times \frac{1}{2}$ means "half of one-fourth," which is naturally smaller than either original piece.

Do I need to simplify my answer?

Always check if you can simplify! In this case, $\frac{1}{8}$ is already in lowest terms since 1 and 8 share no common factors other than 1.

What if one of my fractions is a whole number?

Treat whole numbers as fractions with denominator 1! For example, $3 \times \frac{1}{4} = \frac{3}{1} \times \frac{1}{4} = \frac{3}{4}$ .

Can I use cross-multiplication here?

No! Cross-multiplication is for solving equations like $\frac{a}{b} = \frac{c}{d}$ . For multiplying fractions, always use the multiply-across method.

How can I visualize this problem?

Think of it as cutting! Start with a rectangle, cut it into 4 equal parts (take 1), then cut that piece into 2 equal parts (take 1). You end up with 1 piece out of 8 total pieces!

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